It was enough to send anyone suffering from arachnophobia to an early grave.

Hotel landlady Pat Bayes almost keeled over when she opened up a plain brown box to find a hairy-legged tarantula spider staring back at her.

Curiosity got the better of Pat, 62, when she spotted the box marked "To Lisa" on the window sill of the Highlands Hotel in Secondary Road, Hastings, which she runs with husband Tony, 62.

As she peered into the corked-lined vessel, she jumped back in shock when she found it contained the dead eight-legged spider which had been pinned to the base.

She has no idea where it came from but believes it must have been a mix-up.

She said: "When I first saw the box I immediately thought it was an empty pizza box left by someone.

"I thought nothing of opening it up but when I saw a great big spider was inside I jumped back.

"I have had rubbish thrown over the fence before but never a tarantula. It has obviously been a mistake."

Tarantulas are largely found in the south-western United States, Central and South America and other tropical regions where they feed on insects and a variety of small animals.

A large species of tarantula has a bite that can be painful but records show they have never resulted in the death of a human.

Francis Webb, 76, treasurer of the 600-strong British Tarantula Society, said: "Someone has obviously bought it from a market stall or somewhere, where they are often sold, and left it behind.

"They are lovely creatures and, in my view, not in the least bit frightening."

Anyone who can lay claim to the spider can call The Argus on 01323 724204.