'Deadly spiders' in banana force family from County Durham home

Specialist pest controllers were brought in by Asda, where the fruit was bought from

A woman and her seven-month-old baby were forced to vacate their home for more than three days after hundreds of tropical spiders were found in a banana.

Gemma Price, 30, was mid-mouthful of the banana when she made the discovery.

Pest controllers, called in by Asda where the fruit was bought from, told Ms Price they were possibly Brazilian wandering spiders.

Gemma's baby boy was sleeping next to her when the spiders appeared.

Wildlife expert Geoff Grewcock, of Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, said a bite from this type of spider "could kill you".

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"I had brought a banana up to my bedroom and opened it and I think I must have broken an egg sack because hundreds of these tiny spiders went everywhere," Ms Price said.

"They landed on my arm and I just started thrashing. They went all over the bed and some on Leo's cot.

"I called the police and they said I should evacuate the property straight away. Luckily my mam lives across the road."

Gemma Price was in the middle of eating the banana while her son slept beside her

The mother added she had yet to feel "settled" after moving back home.

The banana was bought at the Stanley branch of Asda. The store said such incidents were "extremely rare" and checks on stock were regularly undertaken.

The company said it organised a specialist team of pest controllers to attend the Price family home.