A KENDAL woman got the fright of her life after she came face to face with what she thought was Britain's most venomous spider, reports James Williamson.

Sarah Gaskarth admitted she was freaked out' after thinking that she had found a Steatoda Nobilis spider, which offers an extremely painful bite, in her shed this week.

The 32-year-old conducted research after her encounter and was convinced that the specimen she found was a Steatoda Nobilis. But experts then confirmed it was deadly spider's close but more harmless relative Steatoda Grosa.

Both are usually found much further south and spider experts cite Mrs Gaskarth's experience as further evidence of global warming.

For story in full see the May 11 Westmorland Gazette.