IT was a scarier Hallowe’en than most for a group of arachnophobics, who came to the Cotswold Wildlife Park to confront their fears.

Saturday’s spider phobia course – called Feeling Calm with Spiders – was the first of its kind to take place at the park near Burford.

Hypnotherapist Pippa Shay led four phobics in the three-hour course. The session cost £85, during which three therapies were used.

And by the end of the day, all had come closer to spiders than they had ever dared before – including touching a tarantula.

Karen Rayner, 43, of Bampton, took part to overcome her fears.

She said: “I would never have thought at the end of the day I would be able to touch a tarantula and I was surprised at how quickly I got the result.”

Ms Shay – who usually works from the Beanbag Natural Health Store, in Witney, and Bampton Physiotherapy and Associates – said: “It’s giving people the skills to run their lives better.

“It helps people be all they want to be in whatever way, reaching their potential and sorting out things that have been holding them back.”

The session at the Cotswold Wildlife Park followed similar courses at London and Bristol zoos.

Ms Shay, of Bampton, said: “It’s a perfect opportunity, being in such a beautiful place and it means that there are the spiders. People can then go as close as they want to.”

* For more details, see the website Beautiful-Spaces.co.uk or call Ms Shay on 01993 852297 or 07733 225316.