Two women suffering from spider bites in Tonbridge, may have been bitten by a false widow spider
Published: 14:00, 04 August 2014
False widow spiders may have struck in Tonbridge.
One woman, who lives in the area, suffered a bite to her arm, and one on her leg, while dozing in her chair.
A regular in the woman's pub, tweeted a photo of the nasty bite today.
Tonbridge Poker Face (@tpokerface) said they suspected it was the work of a false widow spider, although this has not been confirmed.
Chloe Harding, of Gardyne Mews also took to Twitter to share a picture of what she believes to be a false widow spider in her house, after discovering a bite just below her knee.
The 24-year-old said: "I assumed the bite was from a mosquito but it was sore and swollen and nothing like I'd had before. It also really ached.
"Then I saw the spider in my bedroom and later it crawled out into the kitchen, when I looked closely I realised it was a false widow.
"I've seen other pictures and compared to some people I think I'm lucky."
There were a number of reports of the spiders being seen in Kent last year, including in Herne Bay, Ashford and Gillingham.
The harm caused by a bite from a false widow can vary depending on how much venom is injected.
It can cause chest pains, severe swelling and fingers tingling. It is Britain's most venomous spider.
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Kent Messenger reporter