'Tarantulas' flee charity store

Anyone who sees one of the spiders is asked to call police

Two giant spiders, believed to be pet tarantulas, are on the loose after escaping from a glass tank which was given to a Worcestershire charity shop.

The palm-sized spiders, which are not thought to be venomous but may inflict a painful bite, went missing from the British Heart Foundation in Redditch.

The creatures and their tank were among nearly 100 bags which were given to the shop in Market Place on Friday.

The shop manager said people need to be aware not to put spiders in bags.

Contact police

Pauline Thorne, the manager of the charity shop, said: "We are extremely grateful for the support and donations we receive.

"But people need to be aware not to put things like this into the charity bags which are handled by our helpers."

An assistant spotted them running loose when she opened a bag. The bag, which by then contained one spider, was put in a bin outside the shop but it disappeared.

Anyone who spots one of the spiders is asked to contact police so they can arrange for it to be removed.

'Rinse off'

Adam Richardson, who looks after spiders at the West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley, near Kidderminster, said that from the description, he believed the escapees were Chile rose tarantulas.

"They have fangs and could bite if you picked them up, but it would be more painful than destructive.

"If they feel threatened, they are more likely to rub their abdomen and release barbed hairs into the surrounding air that can produce irritation if they get on to the skin or into the eyes.

"If that happens, people should rinse them off with hot water without rubbing or in the case of eyes, use water or eye wash."