Royal Mail postmen delivering giant tarantulas and scorpions

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... pions.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dr Rhys Jones warned that killer creepy crawlies are dropping through letter boxes on a daily basis.

The nature boffin claims giant tarantulas are coming into the country in parcels and packages after being ordered from the internet.

He said poisonous snakes and scorpions are also being delivered by unsuspecting postmen.

And he believes it is only a matter of time before one of the animals escapes and attacks a human.

Dr Jones said: "There are hundreds of these cases and they are happening all over the UK - It's a big problem.

"I don't think it is an exaggeration to say someone could get killed soon."

Dr Jones, a lecturer at Cardiff University and a presenter with the BBC, warned dangerous pets are being mailed hundred of miles to naive enthusiasts.

He has already found huge tarantulas, venomous Hognose snakes, and "utterly, utterly deadly" fattail scorpions.

He said: "It is becoming worrying because you can just jump on the net and find a nasty scorpion or aggressive spider and someone in Europe will pop that in the post for you.

"They're completely bypassing our border controls and people are getting these packages and they've no idea what they're dealing with."

PC Mark Goulding, a wildlife and environmental crime officer, echoed Dr Jones fears.

He said: "I'm sure there are incidents that have happened on a regular basis and the police, the UK border force and Royal Mail have not identified them."

Royal Mail spokeswoman Val Bodden said it was up to customers to check what could be legally posted.

She added: "Live animals and reptiles are prohibited, as are any creatures or insects classified as dangerous within the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976."

*Rhys Jones's Wildlife Patrol begins tonight(mon) at 7.30 on BBC One Wales.

[Lincox]

And Miss Boden, it is up to Royal Mail to make sure that it,s employees are not exposed to this danger.

[hans solo]

im going to ask for info and facts re this at wtl

[Regal]

So who else is looking over their shoulder whilst reading this.

[hans solo]

shake the packet time
i rem an old boy kicking a box about the office years ago live bees he was fed up with the buzzing

[DB1100]

shake the packet time
i rem an old boy kicking a box about the office years ago live bees he was fed up with the buzzing

It might have been from the Gold group tho.

[DGP1]

shake the packet time
i rem an old boy kicking a box about the office years ago live bees he was fed up with the buzzing

It might have been from the Gold group tho.

[hans solo]

that must have been one big bee then
do they do them in stripes with a stinger