People are advised to be on high alert as there is the possibility that a tarantula is on the loose in their town.

Jodie Mae Jenner discovered what she thought was an injured or dead tarantula while walking her dog along Skinners Lane in Edenbridge yesterday morning at around 10am.

Miss Jenner, 24, said: "I was with my mum and our dogs Stanley, Jessie and Holly.

"I'm rather scared of spiders anyway, I have a bit of a phobia, so I think I am always on the lookout anyway.

"Then I saw these legs and said .... 'mum!'"

She left it well alone, but posted a photo of her discovery on Facebook which caused some debate about whether the rather crumpled-looking hairy spider had been attacked by another animal.

But local expert Shea Francis identified the find as a shed skin. Tarantulas have a stiff eco-skeleton which protects their internal organs, but to grow larger they must occasionally shed the skeleton and grow a new one.

If Mr Francis is right in his identification it means the tarantula is still out there.

All tarantulas are venomous, but their bite is not deadly to humans and has been described as being more like as wasp sting.

Nevertheless, it is advisable to stay clear, if you spot it.

Usually they rear up into a "threat posture" just before an attack.

Tarantulas are not native to Britain, and this one must be an escaped pet or been deliberately let go by its owner.

They eat insects and like warm weather. They seldom survive long in the wild in Britain.

There are many different species of tarantula, some a small as a sugar cube, some as large as a dinner plate.

Ms Jenner said: "It's not the sort of thing you expect to find while you are out walking your dogs.

"We definitely won't be walking down there again for a while."

Further information from the RSCPA helpline 0300 123 4999.