Who can stop invader taking over our rivers?

A FURRY foreign invader has taken over Britain’s rivers — with the Government admitting it is powerless to stop them.

- By Jaymi McCann

Chinese mitten crabs first landed on our shores in 1935 in the Thames but have since spread across the country, causing damage to rivers and the fishing industry.

The Natural History Museum, which encourages members of the public to report sightings of the crab, says more than “1,200 records have been submitted so far”, confirming “that the mitten crab is extending its range in the UK”.

Despite this, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) admitted there is little it can do, saying it “is not currently aware of any cost-effective or proven methods of controlling this species”.