Escape character being added before ” with version 6.1

I use Contact Form 7 practically everywhere (over 160 websites) and have done so for many years. On some I use it with CF7 Smart Grid layout for long or complex forms. I have noticed from about a day or so ago that while editing forms and saving them; an escape character is added before a ” symbol when I am using the latest version of CF7 (Version 6.1). I was not sure what the reason was and tried disabling editors, but have just pinned it down to the transition between CF7 version 6.06 which behaves normally, and CF7 6.1 which does not.

Said another way, if I have a selection of answers coded in the form for example:

[select* issues-considered include_blank “Yes” “No”]

Will look like this after I have saved it five times.

[select* issues-considered include_blank /////”Yes/////” /////”No/////”]

Any use of the quote symbol ” anywhere in the form will have the escape character added when you save it. It can also be seen in forms.

I am using PHP8.1. I have not had any problems with CF7 until a day or so ago which was the first time I saw it. I think this coincides with the latest release.

For anyone else seeing this, the temporary fix is to roll back CF7. Would like a solution though please.