Guerrilla warfare is about to engulf South Woodford if one man armed with seed bombs and secateurs has anything to do with it.

Geoffrey Wakeling of Fuller’s Road, South Woodford has his sights set on overgrown flower beds and unruly verges and is looking to assemble a crack squad of gardeners to bring them into line.

He is looking for anyone fed up with weeds in public places and wants to take part in a bit of guerrilla gardening.

The 32-year-old said: “I’m interested in guerrilla gardening and always wanted to get involved but needed people to do it with.

“It’s the illicit gardening of areas that are not your own, like roundabouts.”

He has his sights set on the High Road where he says the flower beds have become overgrown.

“A couple of years ago the flower beds were redeveloped and it was a really good job and lots of money was put into it but they’ve all gone to rack and ruin,” he said. “The plants are dying and the weeds are taking over.”

Seed bombs are among the weapons in his armoury.

They are the size of snowballs and are little balls of earth mingled in with seeds.

He said: “I’ve done about six seed bombs and lobbed them onto verges that are difficult to reach.

“It’s not just in South Woodford.

“There are problems in other areas as well,” said Mr Wakeling, who also writes sci-fi novels.

He added: “It impacts community pride and when you go past a beautifully maintained roundabout or flower bed you’re more likely not to drop litter.”

He said he first found out about guerrilla gardening after reading a book about the movement which was started by Richard Reynolds. “It’s happened in other boroughs so why not in South Woodford.

“I’d like to get some people together and go out every fortnight and do weeding,” Mr Wakeling added.

“We can give something back and if an area looks well kept it will attract less crime.”

To get involved email Geoffrey at geoff_wakeling@hotmail.com.