Andover teenager Casey O'Neill ended up in hospital after 'spider bite' started to swell

Casey O’Neill, 16, from River Way, Andover, says that after being bitten at the beginning of September her leg started ‘oozing blood and puss’ .

She said that she had to take two strong doses of antibiotics, have her leg bandaged and use a crutch for support.

The Andover College student says that she believes that, after weeks of pain, it may have been a false widow spider.

“It started off small and rather itchy, at the time I didn’t think much of it,” she said.

“Over the following days it started to become red and swollen, much more itchy and painful.

It was becoming uncomfortable and irritated so I got taken to the hospital where I had to have my leg bandaged and have multiple dressings changed regularly.

“I don’t remember being bitten, so I must’ve been asleep.

“I’ve been left with a hole in my leg which will now scar.”

The British Arachnological Society’s press officer Lawrence Bee said: “We get lots and lots of queries with people mentioning they have been bitten by a spider.

“It’s rather like being stung by a bee or wasp, some people are sensitive and will react, others will have no problem at all.

“They are maturing at the moment, the males are looking for females so they are moving around. My gut feeling on the serious wounds of people are the result of a secondary infection rather than the original bite.”

Experts have warned false widow spiders are set to invade British homes in the coming weeks due to cool weather.