Giant Spanish slugs have invaded Britain and are creating a mutant superslug.
''We have already seen when these slugs move into an area the native slugs vanish almost immediately. They can wipe out whole crops and prevent them growing there again.''
The European mollusc - which grows up to 15cm long - has already spread to Wales and they are now threatening to eat all of the British species, with slug expert Les Noble worried that the native slugs will completely vanish.
Les, of Aberdeen University, is quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: ''These slugs are like conquistadors were to the Aztecs. Native slugs can't keep pace and may become extinct.
''They are simply being overrun and when you consider the Spanish slug will happily make a meal out of a dead rabbit as much as out of dog muck you can see why they are so successful.
''We have already seen when these slugs move into an area the native slugs vanish almost immediately. They can wipe out whole crops and prevent them growing there again.''
