Is THIS the key to ridding gardens of Japanese knotweed? Thermoelectric device zaps the invasive plant at the roots – but it will cost you £3,000

• A new thermoelectric device might be able to get rid of Japanese knotweed 
• British startup RootWave said the machine is an alternative to weedkiller 
• It works by effectively boiling the root of the plant and stunting any regrowth  

By Eirian Jane Prosser For Mailonline

Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive plants in the UK, damaging walls and even draining systems of around 1.5 million homes.

But a new thermoelectric device that zaps the invasive plant at its roots may be the key to ridding gardens of the pesky weed - that is if you have £3,000 to spare.

The RootWave Pro machine effectively boils the plant's root, without the need to use harmful weedkillers. 

Created by a British startup, the electric device delivers 5kv of power directly to the plant, killing it off and stopping regrowth.

British startup RootWave has created a new thermoelectric device that effectively boils the roots of invasive plants to stop regrowth