WYRE Forest Labour group has slammed council bosses for not immediately banning the use of a controversial weed killer in light of a landmark US court case.

Councillor Nigel Knowles said he was appalled that Wyre Forest District Council had not acted quickly to stop using products containing Glyphosate, which has been labelled as possibly carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation.

In America, a judge ruled that agricultural firm Monsanto had been responsible for school grounds keeper DeWayne Johnson’s terminal cancer and awarded him $289m in damages. Monsanto said it intends to appeal the decision.

At a council meeting last month, Councillor Knowles called on the administration to stop using weed killer containing Glyphosate but was told by Rebecca Vale – the cabinet member for operational services - that the product had been cleared by the Health and Safety Executive and the EU and they would continue to use it.

She added they would continue to monitor the situation. Following the court case, a council spokesman said this position hadn’t changed.

But Councillor Knowles said: “I am appalled that the Wyre Forest District Council Tory administration will not now act and ban Glyphosate from being used to control weeds in Wyre Forest.

“The Tories answer to my question at Full Council is just the same now as before Dewayne Johnson was awarded $289 million dollars against Monsanto.

“I wrote to Councillor Marcus Hart and demanded that in the light of this latest evidence that he issue an immediate order to stop using it. He refuses to act. Wyre Forest District Council should use a safe weed killer.”

Labour spokesman Stephen Brown added they were considering raising a petition to raise public awareness of this.

He said: "Judging by their previous reply about Glyphosate’s cost effectiveness, it’s clear they put using this cheap product above local people’s wellbeing.

“It’s twice now they’ve refused Labour’s calls to ban this proven carcinogenic product. The landmark court case is a game-changer, so they must somehow think that the immune systems of our residents are different to those of people in America who’ve contracted cancer from this weed killer.”