Britain 'faces invasion of deadly black widow spiders' - could one be in YOUR luggage?

Volunteer animal rescue teams have flagged a surge in calls to extract these unwelcome visitors from British homes.

Among the undocumented arrivals, the black widow spider poses the greatest threat.

The arachnids originate from the Americas, Africa and Australia.

Their venom rarely kills healthy adults - but poses a lethal threat to children, elderly people and those with compromised immunity.

Chris Newman from the National Centre for Reptile Welfare has demanded that ministers create a specialist unit to address this emerging threat.

"I don't want to cause a panic, but people need to be aware.

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"This is a human health issue and the Government just sweeps it under the carpet," he said.

"My biggest concern is black widow spiders could get established in this country.

"But customs officers are not even checking for them."

The Kent-based charity recently caught multiple Australian black widows in Japanese cargo at the Dartford Crossing.

Mr Newman's organisation also regularly encounters saw-scaled vipers, amongst the planet's deadliest serpents, hidden within Indian sandstone deliveries.

Black widows can reach 1.5 inches in length and display a distinctive red hourglass marking on their underside.

Many people confuse them with Britain's native false widow spider, which poses no serious threat to humans.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it continuously evaluates emerging threats.

"We are constantly assessing new risks," a Defra spokesman said, and urged international travellers to inspect their belongings carefully before returning to Britain.