by Alan McGuinness

If you thought one black widow was bad enough, think again.

The spider found at Chatham Docks earlier this month is pregnant.

And the average number of offspring they produce?

A staggering 450.

However, those petrified at the thought of a small army of the deadly arachnids in the county can breathe easily.

The expectant mother is on her way to her new home at London Zoo.

Vet Mark Rowland dealt with her when she was first brought to the Trinity Vet Centre in Maidstone in a Chinese takeaway carton.

She was found in a container by workers importing cars from the United States.

He said: "I am taking her to London Zoo today. When I looked at her yesterday I thought she looked a little bigger and it turns out she has got a sack of eggs.

"I checked out the average size of a sack and it is 450 eggs. As a result I am in a rush to get her to the zoo."

A bite from a black widow is 15 times more deadly than that of a rattlesnake.

It can cause muscle pain and spasms, nausea, vomiting, a coma and even death. The effects can last for weeks afterwards.

Mr Rowland is pleased with how things have turned out.

"The zoo is happy to take her and that should be that. It is a happy ending," he said.