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| False widow spider finds close four east London schools | False widow spider finds close four east London schools |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four schools have been forced to close because infestations of false widow spiders have been discovered. | Four schools have been forced to close because infestations of false widow spiders have been discovered. |
| Ellen Wilkinson Primary School, Star Primary School, Lister Community School and Rokeby School in east London were closed on Wednesday after the finds. | Ellen Wilkinson Primary School, Star Primary School, Lister Community School and Rokeby School in east London were closed on Wednesday after the finds. |
| 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 reports. | The schools are all within a two-mile radius of each other and are being "treated and fumigated", the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports. |
| A spokeswoman for Newham Council said the closures have been implemented "at the head teachers' discretion [...], as these infestations were in a number of locations across the school sites". | |
| She said the spiders which "only bite if mishandled or provoked" were first discovered on Tuesday. | |
| 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. |
| In a letter to parents, Star Primary School said the 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". | |
| "Pupils are being set work via the schools and will remain in contact with schools," a council spokeswoman said. | "Pupils are being set work via the schools and will remain in contact with schools," a council spokeswoman said. |
| Anne-Marie Fenttiman, 36, whose son Mitchell goes to Rokeby School, said: "My son is upset, he just started school and he likes being there. | |
| "Luckily, I'm a stay-home mum so I can be here with him. It would be very different if we both worked full-time - as many other parents do." | "Luckily, I'm a stay-home mum so I can be here with him. It would be very different if we both worked full-time - as many other parents do." |
| Ms Fenttiman, from Canning Town, said her friend was bitten by a false widow earlier this year and told her he was "in hospital for two days and still blisters and flares up". | Ms Fenttiman, from Canning Town, said her friend was bitten by a false widow earlier this year and told her he was "in hospital for two days and still blisters and flares up". |
| 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 | False widows - Britain's most venomous spider |
| Source: Natural History Museum | Source: Natural History Museum |