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Invasion of the super spiders

These images of unwanted house visitors were sent in by Courier readers Susan Cooper, left, and Yvonne Webster.
These images of unwanted house visitors were sent in by Courier readers Susan Cooper, left, and Yvonne Webster.

It’s that time of year when many people will be out enjoying the unseasonably sunny autumn weather or spending time getting their homes and wardrobes ready for the dark winter months.

For others, however, the last weeks of September mean spending a lot of time reduced to a gibbering mess in their own kitchens or forced to flee their homes like a panicked fox with a stolen chicken.

Yes, it’s spider season in Britain and experts are warning that this year is more terrifying than ever.

Thanks to a warm summer there are more insects around for spiders to feast on leading to a UK-wide invasion of ‘giant’ arachnids.

According to the British Arachnological Association a charity devoted to the study and care of what broadcaster Charlie Brooker describes as “mobile nightmare units” many common species are likely to grow nearly an inch in length.

Although these aren’t really abnormalities but simply spiders reaching the top end of their natural range, it does explain why The Courier has been inundated with photographs taken by readers of eight-legged monsters found in their homes.

Lawrence Bee, spokesman for BAA, said: “What we’re seeing at the moment is the species being a little bit at the top end of their range size simply because there’s more food, the weather has been warmer and there are more insects about so they can feed more.”

He explained that spiders are also more visible just now because hatchlings from the start of the year are reaching adulthood and are moving around more as they find a mate.

Whether that’s any comfort to someone whose home now looks like the set of a science fiction movie is debatable, however.