FOREST businessman Robin Caulkett is urging local councils to destroy cherry laurel bushes near public places after finding one heavy with poisonous berries in the centre of Cinderford.
The berries, he says, contain prussic acid which converts to cyanide when ingested.
"They would certainly make a child very ill or result in death if not treated quickly," he said.
Mr Caulkett, owner of the well known Rainforest Clothing Company at Ruspidge, discovered the cherry laurel growing near the Lidl store in the town's High Street.
"The berries are very attractive and could easily be picked and perhaps eaten by a child. They are very dangerous and particularly so to animals for whom they can be lethal," he said.
Mr Caulkett has good reason to issue the warning.
"Some years a red setter I owned ate a number of cherry laurel berries. He became very ill and I rushed him to a vet.
"It looked very much as though we would lose him but fortunately I knew a little bit about chemistry and was able to administer an antidote. But it was touch and go," he said.
Mr Caulkett has written to Cinderford Town Council urging them to destroy any plants close to public rights of way.
A spokesman for Forest Enterprise confirmed the cherry laurel as a poisonous plant.
"We remove them from picnic areas but they do grow in other areas of the Forest and are important to some species of moths," she said.