Mum finds erection-causing spiders in bag of Tesco bananas

A Bristol mother of two was horrified to open a bag of Tesco bananas and find an infestation of spiders inside.

To make matters worse, the spiders - the Brazilian Wandering Spider, or Banana Spider - are known to have a bite that can give a man an erection lasting four hours - or even kill.

Maria Layton, 43, tells the Bristol Post that the bananas were bought by her husband. They had been in the house for a day before she opened the bag to give daughter Siri a piece of the fruit.

"The first banana had a funny bit on it, so I got another one for her and that was when I found the massive spider cocoon," she says.

"There was spider web on the other bananas too. I was so scared - I don't like spiders at the best of times, but have read about Brazilian Wandering Spiders - and was very frightened about the potential threat to my family."

Thinking quickly, Maria put the bananas in a sealed box and put it in the freezer, hoping this would kill the spiders. She then called Tesco customer services, which told her to take them back to the shop.

"Tesco were a bit useless, I was really concerned about the possibility of this dangerous spider and spider eggs in my house and really wanted some helpful advice on how to act. I wasn't sure if other spiders or eggs had escaped when I ripped the bag open," she says.

"I posted the picture on Tesco's Facebook page and they told me to send the wrapper in so they could get the barcode to refund me! I was shocked, they failed to see the potential threat to me and my family and thought I was only interested in having a pound or so back."

This attitude is in sharp contrast to that of Waitrose, which last year managed to deliver a Brazilian Wandering Spider to a south London shopper along with his bananas. The company responded by sending out a pest control expert after both the RSPCA and the police said the creature was too dangerous for them to handle.

The Brazilian Wandering Spider's bite can kill within two hours, but can also give male victims a four-hour erection; at least they die happy...

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