Deadly spiders in Goodyear container

Dozens of deadly redback spiders from Australia were found in a container of old truck tyres at Wolverhampton's Goodyear factory.

The arachnids were discovered among the tyres which had been imported to the Stafford Road site to be reconditioned.

When shocked workers opened the metal shipping container they spotted between 15 and 20 of the spiders.

A plastic containment bubble was erected around the tyres by pest contractors and the zone was heated up to kill the spiders humanely.

Goodyear spokesman James Bailey said: "We had a delivery from Australia earlier this week and when it was unloaded staff found some unusual insects.

"We called in experts from Dudley Zoo and they identified them as Australian redbacks which are potentially venomous to humans."

He said Wolverhampton Council's environmental health team was alerted and pest control contractors were called in yesterday.

Mr Bailey added: "The experts said the spiders like dark places so the tyres would have been ideal. They're unlikely to survive more than 24 hours in our climate."

Staff at nearby Oxley Primary School, in Ripon Road, were also alerted to the discovery. Deputy headteacher Lynn Dunn said all teachers were being extra vigilant.