A Sussex-based spider expert is advising people not to panic about recent sightings of false widow spiders across the UK.

Angela Hale, who works at Drusillas Park in Alfriston in East Sussex, is an expert in arachnids and educates visitors to the park about the eight-legged animals.

She said: “The false widow spiders originate from mainland Europe but are no more dangerous than the garden spider.

“The bite of a false widow is no worse than a bee or wasp sting and they will only bite if they feel threatened or are provoked.”

False widow sightings have this week caused four London schools to be closed and fumigated.

The UK’s only venomous spider, the false widow has distinctive cream markings on its bulbous body and is brown with reddish-orangey legs.

One of Angela’s duties at the park is running an arachnophobia course to help people overcome their fear of spiders.

She said: “There is no good reason to be afraid of spiders, and our native spiders pose no threat to us.

“They are essential to our ecosystem. They are our friends, not our enemies so we need to find a way to learn to live alongside them.”