SPIDERS are known to sneak into British homes during the cold winter months.

As the world's biggest spider was spotted in the UK, here are some other large creepy-crawlies.

What are the biggest spiders found in the UK?

1. Huntsman spider

In nightmarish news for arachnophobes, the whopping huntsman specimen was discovered in Hull after hitching a lift on a shipping container.

The spider – whose venomous bite can cause heart palpitations – travelled 5,000 miles from China before being spotted by understandably terrified dock workers.

After making the sighting, staff legged it and called in the RSPCA.

Brave officials safely captured the giant arachnid after its month-long journey around the world.

While the spider is unusually huge, it's not deadly to humans.

2. Cardinal spider

The cardinal spider is the largest spider commonly found in the UK.

Otherwise known as Tegenaria parietina, some of these spiders have been recorded to have a leg span of 12cm.

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The name "cardinal" was appropriated from a legend that dates back to the 14th century when Cardinal Wolsey was scared by the spider at Hampton Court.

The spider is fairly rare in Europe and is found more commonly in the south of England.

Most live in buildings or walls and like all spiders live in houses.

They can withstand very dry conditions and survive for months without sustenance.

The cardinal spider is capable of biting, although bites have rarely been recorded.

The nip is believed to be completely harmless and painless to humans.

3. Four spot spider

This is the UK's heaviest spider

The four spot spider can be seen in Britain in tall grass during the summer and autumn.

They have four white spots on their back giving them their name.

Adults reach maturity in late summer and autumn, when the mated females can become very large as their abdomens distended with eggs.

4. Giant house spider

This spider is the one you will see most common in the autumn.

They can grow as big as 12cm in length.

The giant house spider lives in sheds, attics, homes and out buildings.

It can survive for several months without any food or water.

They are seen all year round but mate in the autumn time.

5. Labyrinth spider

This rather large spider is found in Wales and England from June to September

They live in hedgerows and in long grass.

6. Cellar spider

Cellar spiders are also known as Daddy Longleg Spiders.

Their spindly bodies can be up to 10mm in length.

They can be found in homes all year round with males living up to two years and females can live up to three years.

What are the biggest spiders found in the world?

1. Huntsman spiders

Of the world's larger spiders, it is only huntsmen that can nimbly run up sheer vertical surfaces.

Huntsman spiders are renowned for the enormous size, with males able to achieve a leg span of between 10 and 12 inches.

They live in warm tropical climates across the world in places such as Australasia, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Mediterranean Basin.

They are common in Australia but have been introduced accidentally to parts of the USA, Pakistan, India, China, and Japan.

Adult Huntsman spiders do not build webs but forage for food.

Their diet mainly consists of insects but they are also known to eat small reptiles such as skinks and gekkos.

Huntsman spiders use venom to stun their prey and to aid in digestion.

These huge spiders are members of the Sprassidae of which there are more than 1,000 species.

2. The Goliath birdeater

This spider belongs to the tarantula family and is found in northern South America.

It is the largest spider in the world by mass – 175 g (6.2 oz) – and body length – up to 13 cm.

However it is second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span.

3. Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula

They are thought to be the third largest species of tarantula in the world.

The tarantulas are found in forest regions of north-eastern Brazil.

When fully grown they can have a leg span of up to 10 inches.

The breed is black in colour and once mature has pink-red hairs along their legs, chelicerae and abdomen.

They are popular pets as they have large bodies, are considered to be docile and are easy to breed.

The salmon pink bird-eater tends to attack by flicking hairs from their abdomen at a predator which cause pain, and can cause blindness if thrown into eyes.

They also have a venomous bite that can cause pain, but it is a last resort defence by the species.

The spiders don’t spin webs to catch prey, instead they lie in wait on the floor of the Brazilian rainforest.

They eat a mixture of insects, lizards, mice and occasionally small birds.

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