Venomous false widow spiders have been sighted in Twickenham as their spread across the south-east London continues.

Pauline Law, who lives near Twickenham Green, said she and her partner discovered the potentially deadly minibeasts in and around their flat last night.

After finding an apparent baby false widow in their kitchen sink, she found a fully-grown one, which has venom that can be deadly to those allergic, hanging on her doorway.

She said: “My partner squished the one we found in the sink and it is scary to think of them being so close to our home.

“I get the creepy crawlies just thinking about them actually - we have bought a load of insecticide and sprayed all around our doorway.

“They really do look horrible.”

The sighting in Twickenham comes following hundreds of sightings of the arachnids in south and south-east London this week.

They are often black and shiny with cream-coloured markings on their backs.

The spiders have bulbous abdomens with thick legs which can be black or red.

Bites can cause burning and swelling and they have been known to cause people to pass out.

If you have come across or photographed a false widow spider, tell us about it using the comment facility below or email tom.ambrose@london.newsquest.co.uk.

 

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