A WOMAN discovered an unexpected visitor in the shape of a four-inch black scorpion in a kitchen in Whitstable.

The woman who lives there contacted the council and managed to trap the scorpion in a lunch box with the help of a neighbour before on-call officer Wendy Osmond arrived at the property.

Ms Osmond said: "Fred, as we've named the scorpion, is currently in his lunchbox on my desk and is certainly the centre of attention. It was one of the more unusual calls I've received in my job."

Council staff have been investigating the scorpion on the internet and are trying to contact a reptiles expert to find out where they should take it.

Ms Osmond added: "It looks as though it could be an Emperor Scorpion. If so, they are one of the more commonly kept scorpions as a pet, so it's possible Fred has escaped from someone's house."