False widow spider infestation closes two London schools

False widow spiders' bite can be incredibly painful, but are not believed to have caused a single death in the UK

False widow spiders have been found in at least four schools in the Newham area of London (PA)

Two London primary schools have been forced to shut after an infestation of false widow spiders.

Hundreds of pupils at Thomas Buxton School and Osmani School, roughly 400ft apart, in East London, Whitechapel, were told to evacuate the buildings until 16 and 23 November.

Although the spiders can give a “nasty bite” which can cause an allergic reaction in some “vulnerable” people, the Tower Hamlets council said the pests were not dangerous.

It is not believed any children were bitten before pest control experts were called in to fumigate the properties.

“The Osmani and Thomas Buxton Primary Schools are both temporarily closed due to a spider infestation,” a spokesperson for the council told Sky News.

"Pest control teams are currently on the premises of both schools, dealing with the infestation of false widow spiders.”

They added if any parents were concerned about their child’s health, “do make sure that you refer your child to a local GP."

False widow spiders are Britain’s most venomous arachnid, arriving in the UK in the 1870s. The bites can be hugely painful – in some cases worse than a bee sting – but there has yet to be a single recorded death from a False Widow spider. The comes following a spike in False Widow numbers, a result of the warm and wet summer experienced this year.