Poison spider plague shuts school

Pest control staff yesterday at the Dean Academy, where they fumigated the whole site to clear the spiders AN INVASION of venomous false widow spiders forced the closure of a secondary school yesterday.

Specialist pest control experts were called in to carry out a fumigation after the discovery of the infestation in the school’s information computer technology block.

The potentially dangerous false widows were first found at the Dean Academy in Lydney, Gloucestershire, on Monday.

The block was shut by county council health and safety officers on Tuesday – but when more spiders were discovered elsewhere in the school it was decided to close the entire site.

In a letter to parents, vice principal Craig Burns described the decision as in the best interests of the health and safety of pupils.

He said: “The health and safety unit and pest control feel ‘ Unfair reputation’... a false widow that we have dealt with the matter quickly and efficiently and taken appropriate early action.

“There have been no reports of anyone being bitten by the false widow spiders at the academy.”

He added: “Any pre- planned meetings, sports fixtures or extra- curricular activities will not take place.” The county’s spider expert David Haigh said publicity about sightings of the false widow has given it an unjustified bad reputation.

He said: “The frenzy surrounding them has been somewhat unfair.

“Although there must be a certain degree of caution when approaching these kind of spiders, they are not aggressive.

“Evidence to relate the injuries reported to some people who have been bitten is also inconclusive.

“They could have been caused by MRSA or septicaemia.

“Most victims do not see the spider, but report to hospital.

“Once two puncture wounds are seen, doctors assume it is as a result of a spider bite but that isn’t always the case.

“False widows have become more common across the county after a series of warm winters.

“Last winter was the first harsh winter in some time.”