Giant spiders look set to invade homes across south east London and north Kent - as reports of attacks continue to grow.

The warm autumn weather has provided generous food supplies which have caused the spiders to grow both in number and size. As the warm weather starts to recede, many of these spiders will look for shelter in people’s homes. 

And a succession of people claiming to have been attacked by the giant house spiders have been making headlines across the country.

A four year old, Elle Jordan, was recently bitten by a house spider in Birmingham as a red rash spread across her body and her foot ballooned in size. 

Meanwhile, in Bristol Liam Forrester and Kirsty Garrand had a recent infestation of giant spiders in their home in which Mr Forrester claimed to have been bitten. 

Ms Garrand told SWNS: "We opened the attic door and a few of them came out so now we are scared to go up there again. They are horrible, vile things. I found one in the bath last week, and when I put a pint glass over it, its long legs just filled up the whole glass."

With fears on the rise, The London Wildlife Trust has moved to reassure worried residents. 

Its spider expert Tony Wileman told News Shopper: "This time of year the males come into the house looking for females and they are capable of biting but in most cases they won’t puncture human flesh. 

"Even if they did bite you the venom is so small that it wouldn’t affect you unless you had an allergic reaction. Otherwise, it would be less than a sting from a bee or a wasp."

They're here - readers send in their pictures of spiders. But are they really giants?

A lot of you have shared pictures of your unwelcome visitors. Here’s what our readers have found in their houses. Try not to panic! 

News Shopper:

Roger Watts, 75, from Bailey Place, Sydenham called in after seeing this whopper in his house.

He said “My son called me to the bathroom and it was hanging on the side of a door frame. I got some tissue and put it in the garden.”

When asked if he was lucky not to be bitten he said: “Yes. I’ve been bitten before, about three months ago. It left a bite like a bee sting” 

News Shopper:

April Carden found this in her garden. She said: “I've had massive ones like that in my flat with massive bodyies too. They're horrible.”

News Shopper:

Nicola Jane Heather found this scuttling around her house. She said: “They've already tried to invade my home.”

News Shopper:

Nikki Edwards also commented: “Found this running round my house in SE9 area.”

News Shopper:

Vicki Betteridge caught one of the eight-legged wonders. She said: “This was in my little boy's room, BR1 area.”

News Shopper:

And Claire Boxall commented: “This one lives in my kitchen”