FALSE widow spiders are no bigger than a 1p or 5p piece but have the worst bite in the UK.

They have a dark, shiny body with pale markings and a creamy coloured band on their abdomen.

Frequently mistaken for Black Widow spiders, they are usually found in houses and out buildings and are more common in the south of the country.

Experts believe they first arrived from the Canary Islands more than 100 years ago and say numbers are on the rise.

They bite when provoked, usually only causing humans a bee sting-style reaction, according to the Natural History Museum’s Insect Information Service.

“Usually, the bites are about as bad as a bee or wasp sting though some people have a nasty reaction to it,” an expert said.

Anyone still having symptoms after 24 hours should visit their GP, they said.