A rare breeds dealer has revealed the shocking discovery of a toxic spider from Australia - on a road in Dartford.

Wayne May, 43, of Artisan Rare Breeds, was called to the creature on Thursday (Nov 27) by a driver who had noticed it near the Dartford Tunnel.

He believes the Australian Redback spider fell off a lorry on the way to imports and exports.

The creepy crawly is now struggling to adapt to the cold climate and is now due to be killed.

Mr May, who runs the charity animal centre from The Brent, Dartford, told News Shopper: "It’s so rare, you’re more likely to win the lottery than come into contact with this spider.

"If you ever got bitten it would hurt a lot but it’s unlikely you’d die.

"We got called by someone and they sent an image of this strange spider with a red spot.

"We went out straight away and found it near some soundproof fencing near the Dartford Tunnel.

"In the end we spent ages on the internet trying to work out what it was and spoke to some arachnid experts.

"It’s now housed in a specialist aquarium in Dartford and we've spent four days on the phone getting advice on how to deal with it."

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The animal expert is concerned about mass hysteria over the creepy crawly.

He said: "It is a toxic spider but no one in this country has died from it since 1956, when an anti-venom, was developed.

"She’s ill and she hasn’t fed or re-hydrated herself because this climate isn’t right for her. She’s suffering.

"It will be euthanized in the end because it’s potentially dangerous. 

"Unfortunately there is a lot of media hype. It was scaremongering which is a shame."

Visit artisanrarebreeds.org