A shocked Tesco worker has described the moment he spotted a venomous false widow spider hanging off his television.

Sam Evans, 25, was watching a Harry Potter film at home when he saw the creepy crawlie last night.

False widow spiders - a relative of the infamous and deadly black widow - are widely regarded as Britain's most venomous spider.

"I was lying in bed watching telly and suddenly I saw it hanging off my telly," he said.

"My mum did not believe me at first but when she saw the skull markings on the back she realised what it was.

"I have never seen anything like it before, but I have read a lot of stories and I know people can have really bad reactions to them."

Mr Evans, who lives with his mum on Quantock Drive in Ashford, captured the spider in a glass.

"I have heard they can be lethal so I do want to tell others..." - Sam Evans

Although not naturally aggressive towards humans, a false widow's fangs are capable of piercing flesh and the venom can cause a painful swelling.

Mr Evans, who works nights at Crooksfoot Tesco, says he wants to warn people about the creatures.

"I have heard they can be lethal so I do want to tell others," he added.

"If it is in a house like this one, people need to know.

"People do not believe they are in the UK but there is now proof."

Originally from the Canary Islands, the creatures are thought to have arrived in England in 1879.

The earliest reports are believed to have been in Torquay, but they have since travelled across the south.

The strength of the venom can trigger a reaction similar to a wasp sting - and symptoms can include pins and needles, mild chest pains and swelling near the area of the bite.

A false widow's web consists of many short, irregularly placed silk strands rather than more familiar radial creations.