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False widow spider finds close four east London schools | False widow spider finds close four east London schools |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four schools have been forced to close after false widow spider infestations were discovered. | Four schools have been forced to close after false widow spider infestations were discovered. |
Ellen Wilkinson Primary School, Star Primary School, Lister Community School and Rokeby School in east London were closed on Wednesday after the find. | Ellen Wilkinson Primary School, Star Primary School, Lister Community School and Rokeby School in east London were closed on Wednesday after the find. |
False widows are about the size of a 50p coin and are the most dangerous spider species in the UK. | False widows are about the size of a 50p coin and are the most dangerous spider species in the UK. |
Newham Council said it was working with the schools to ensure "children can continue to receive an education". | Newham Council said it was working with the schools to ensure "children can continue to receive an education". |
The schools are all within a two-mile radius of each other and are being "treated and fumigated", the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported. | The schools are all within a two-mile radius of each other and are being "treated and fumigated", the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported. |
In a letter to parents, Star Primary School said Newham Council's environmental team found the infestation during a routine check and "believe [it] is contained to the outside of the building and that this needs to be treated immediately before the eggs start hatching". | In a letter to parents, Star Primary School said Newham Council's environmental team found the infestation during a routine check and "believe [it] is contained to the outside of the building and that this needs to be treated immediately before the eggs start hatching". |
You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
"Pupils are being set work via the schools and will remain in contact with schools," a spokeswoman for the authority said. | "Pupils are being set work via the schools and will remain in contact with schools," a spokeswoman for the authority said. |
She said the spiders "only bite if mishandled or provoked". | She said the spiders "only bite if mishandled or provoked". |
Bites from false widows can cause painful swelling but are not life-threatening. | Bites from false widows can cause painful swelling but are not life-threatening. |
Ellen Wilkinson Primary School in Beckton said in a letter it expects to be closed for most of next week. | Ellen Wilkinson Primary School in Beckton said in a letter it expects to be closed for most of next week. |
Star Primary School in Canning Town said in a letter to parents it would provide an update on the length of the closure on its website next week. | Star Primary School in Canning Town said in a letter to parents it would provide an update on the length of the closure on its website next week. |
Lister Community School in Plaistow hopes to be open by Friday while Rokeby School in Canning Town will be closed until 29 October. | Lister Community School in Plaistow hopes to be open by Friday while Rokeby School in Canning Town will be closed until 29 October. |
Newham Council has urged all schools and nurseries in the area to "check their premises carefully for these spiders" and call pest control if they see any signs. | Newham Council has urged all schools and nurseries in the area to "check their premises carefully for these spiders" and call pest control if they see any signs. |
In 2015, two schools in neighbouring Tower Hamlets were closed in 2015 due to the same infestation. | In 2015, two schools in neighbouring Tower Hamlets were closed in 2015 due to the same infestation. |
False widows - Britain's most venomous spider | |
Source: Natural History Museum |