THE HIGHWAYS Agency has held its hands up to killing hundreds of protected rare orchids near one of South Devon's busiest roads.

Nine species of orchid were being grown at an official county wildlife site, close to the A38 near Chudleigh.

But up to 90 per cent of the rare butterfly orchids have died days after Crammers Cross was sprayed with herbicides to reduce bramble and gorse.

The agency admitted there had been some spraying in the area and said it was investigating the incident.

It is understood 717 butterfly orchids existed at the site last year.

Other species included the bee orchid and the southern marsh orchid.

Giles Knight, conservation manager for Devon Wildlife Trust, said: "It's an incredible group of flowers. For it to have been decimated to 10 per cent, it's very hard to accept.

"Roadside verges are a part of our living landscape and butterfly orchids are a very special plant.

"Where you get a range of them in the same place it requires sensitive management, which is not what it was receiving in this case."

Mr Knight said the case highlighted the need for better communication between Devon County Council, the Highways Agency and the trust.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "As part of our woodland management plan we spot spay scrub and invasive species such as bramble, ash and gorse in order to encourage biodiversity of species and increase numbers of rare plants such as orchids.

"Spot spraying was carried out last week on this site. It has been brought to our attention that there has been over spraying and that some orchids have been killed.

"This is the first time this has happened, but we will be investigating and ensuring this does not happen again."