A family were left horrified after they found a suspected false widow spider in their home.

Dad Adam Holmes was shocked to see a large spider forming a web in his home on Wednesday, October 16.

Alarmed about the risks it could pose to his family, particularly his two-year-old daughter, Adam posted a photo of the spider on social media to see if anyone could identify it.

Several commenters believed it was a false widow spider, cited as being the most venomous spider in the UK and causing painful bites, which have been compared to wasp stings and may require antibiotics.

Adam said: “I spotted it when I opened the back door to the garden. It came running out so I must have caused vibration to its web. We now have got rid of it as it made it home next to our first aid box.

“I don't mind spiders but my partner can't stand them and when I found out it was a false widow and some people replied saying that they had to be on antibiotics for a while after they got bitten by one, I could not run the risk of my daughter getting bitten.

“I did not kill it, I caught it and put it in the garden."

One person commented that she was bitten a few years ago on her leg and had antibiotics for two months after it had become swollen, hot, bright red and developed black and yellow blisters.

Another person said they had been bitten on their leg and was in hospital for three weeks after contracting sepsis.

False Widows are said to only bite when they feel threatened or if someone accidentally touches them and their bites cause pain that usually lasts between one and 12 hours but can sometimes be more than 24 hours.

An increase in the number of large spiders has been reported in homes across the UK as the weather gets colder and they seek food, mating opportunities and shelter.

Purseweb spiders, a type of tarantula, have also been spotted in the UK.

They can build tube-like webs which can be up to 25 cm long, possess venom and are prone to biting people if mishandled.