Arachnophobe forced to bin two-day-old car after discovering gigantic spider in it
Terrified Brendan Morris, 33, was unable to get in his new car for 10 days after spotting the huge creepy-crawly for fear it may have lay eggs
A SELF-CONFESSED arachnophobe has been unable to get in his new car for 10 days - after spotting a gigantic spider crawling around inside it.
Brendan Morris, 33, is registered as disabled and was given the Hyundai Tuscon through the government’s Motability scheme.
But the 33-year-old, who has to take 42 tablets a-day because he suffers from Peripheral Neuropathy, had to abandon his new wheels after spotting the creepy-crawly because he’s absolutely petrified of spiders.
The dad-of-three was driving to the supermarket with his wife Wendy, 28, who suddenly let out a spine-chilling shriek after spotting the enormous eight-legged creature scurrying down the passenger door.
Brendan stopped the car in the middle of the road before the panicked pair got out.
Brendan, of Padiham, Lancs, who got his new motor two days earlier, thought the spider was poisonous and had hitched a ride all the way from the Czech Republic – where the car was made.
Brendan told the Sun: “We were absolutely terrified – it was the size of my palm.
“Imagine if I was driving on the motorway? I certainly would have crashed.
“We are so thankful that our young children weren’t with us at the time.
“We scoured the internet and it looked very like a poisonous yellow-backed spider which come from the Czech Republic – it looked so deadly.
“I noticed a massive spider web the day before, but thought nothing of it."
But The Sun showed it to zoo experts who concluded it was nothing more than a common house spider - albeit a large one.
Despite their advice, Brendan complained to Motability who have agreed to take the car back since he is "terrified" to go back in after his experience.
He is now in the process of arranging a spider-free car to lease with his disability benefit through Motability.
He added: “Experts fumigated the car in case it had laid eggs – but I’m not taking this risk.
“My skin has been crawling ever since – I am terrified of them.”
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A spider expert at Chester Zoo said: “Our team are sure it`s a Wolfspider species, which aren’t dangerous – albeit quite large.
“They have lived alongside us for a few million years, and they tend to spend their time hiding, so that`s why they’re rarely seen by anyone.
“On the plus side, the species is known for killing many pests.”
A Motability spokesman said: "We are in discussion with Mr Morris about which car will suit him for the next three years.
"Anybody in a circumstance where something has gone wrong and for whatever reason we have early terminated the lease earlier than the three year period, then that person is free to find a vehicle that is suitable for their needs for the next three years and apply to the scheme.
"We do that with any customer, particularly when its very early in the lease."