Hundreds of tarantulas found in van on M5

Officers drew straws on who should investigate, a spokesman said

Traffic officers had a hairy moment when they stopped a van to find it was full of tarantulas.

About 200 of the large arachnids were packed in tubs in the back of the van, the Central Motorway Police Group said.

Officers drew straws on who should investigate, a spokesman said.

The van was stopped at a junction near West Bromwich on the M5. A spokesman said the spiders were healthy and had been on their way to what officers said was a "reptile show".

The van was allowed to continue on its journey.