Huntsman spider found at UK warehouse

A FEARSOME-LOOKING giant spider common in Australia has given workers at a British warehouse a fright after travelling over from Asia.

The 17-centimetre-long huntsman spider came over to East Sussex after stowing away in a shipping container packed with BMX parts in Taiwan.

It is believed to have been locked up for six weeks as the container made its way thousands of miles across the oceans before reaching the UK.

Shocked staff at Seventies BMX Distribution in St Leonards-on-Sea discovered the arachnid lurking in their delivery while unpacking the boxes.

Warehouse manager Joe Woodburn said he thought the spider was plastic at first as it wasn't moving.

"My mate saw it on the box I was holding. He froze and couldn't get his words out fast enough," Woodburn said.

"...the minute it was in the sunlight it started to warm up and it was running around and jumping up the side of the box."

RSPCA inspector Zoe Ballard was called out to deal with the animal, but admitted she was not the biggest fan of eight-legged creepy-crawlies.

"I got the call through as collection of a tarantula, but as soon as I saw it I knew it wasn't a tarantula," Ms Ballard said, adding she's been called out to collect a scorpion in the past, but has never come across a spider like it before.

"I managed to secure the spider in the container and took it to the RSPCA's wildlife centre nearby, but I must admit I was worried all the way that it would get out and escape in my van."

The spider has now been housed at Drusillas Zoo Park in Alfriston, near Eastbourne, but RSPCA inspector Tony Woodley said it does not generally pose a big threat.

"Huntsman spiders can give you a nasty bite, but they aren't likely to cause too much harm unless you suffer an allergic reaction," he said.

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