A rare plant disease is tightening its grip at one of the region’s most treasured beauty spots.

It has emerged that 14 new outbreak sites of a deadly fungus have been identified on Cannock Chase in the last two weeks, including some in open heathland for the first time.

Staffordshire County Council has been fighting since the New Year to protect the site’s unique wildlife habitat against the spread of the fungal type infection, phytophthora pseudosyringae.

But the discovery of more infected sites is a huge blow to their efforts and wildlife experts say they are now “running out of options”.

In an attempt to stop the disease spreading “out of control”, the council is considering spraying affected plants across the Site of Special Scientific Interest with herbicide.

It is also introducing restrictions on public access to a large part of heathland near the Katyn Memorial.

Mike Maryon, the council’s Cabinet member for countryside and environment, said: “We are considering using glyphosate which is widely used in gardens and by farmers. It is harmless to wildlife but kills plants very effectively.

“If we don’t kill the infected plants before the autumn spore season, the disease could spread out of control.

“We are talking to experts at Natural England and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs but time is running out.”

The strain of the disease found on the Chase has never before been found in ground-covering bilberry.

The disease is harmless to animals but can be spread via clothes, footwear and animal hair. Walkers, cyclists and dog walkers are asked to stick to main paths.