A man who 'hates creepy crawlies' has been left too scared to eat his meals downstairs after finding the 'biggest spider in Britain' hiding in his living room. Scott Elwood, from Oldham, had just arrived home from holiday in Greece when his mum told him that they had found an unwelcome eight-legged guest in their front room.
Determined to get rid of the 'horrible' creature, the 24-year-old along with his 19-year-old brother Mason Stott and their stepdad Dean Stackhouse made it their 'mission' to catch the critter. After scouring the room for half an hour, they discovered the spider's web concealed behind the skirting board near their dining table, with antique restorer Dean poking at the lair to see if the arachnid was 'home'.
The horrified trio then watched on as the biggest spider they had ever seen darted out, which Scott says is roughly the size of his palm when fully outstretched, according to Manchester Evening News. In a video of the incident, recorded by manual labourer Mason, Dean can be seen inspecting the web with a toothpick before the creature's huge legs come into view - and the 'evil' critter scuttles out of its hiding spot.
Someone can then be heard saying, 'oh my God that is evil' before proclaiming 'wow, look how big that f*cker is, it's f*cking massive that... Jesus'. A 'squeamish' Scott shared his brother's shocking footage online where it's amassed more than eight million views.
Although he's now too afraid to eat his tea in their living room, given the spider is now 'famous' he said that it 'deserves to live on' and is hoping to eventually release it outdoors. Scott, of Oldham, Greater Manchester, said: "It could potentially be the biggest spider in Britain.
"That was the biggest spider I've ever seen, anywhere, especially in my house. I'd say it's the size of your palm when it's stretched out. It was horrific seeing that in my house. I was terrified when I saw it and still terrified to this day. I absolutely hate them. Creepy crawlies and anything with that may legs are just horrible."
Mason, who recorded the footage added: "I was shocked to see the spider. I was pretty scared and didn't want to go near it."
Scott said he's had a long-standing fear of spiders ever since finding a big one in his bed. He said: "I'd just come back from holiday in Greece. My mum knows I hate spiders and the day I got back she said to me 'there's a horrible spider living in the living room'. And I made it my mission that night with my stepdad and brother to find the spider."We spent half an hour searching the living room and we finally found it in that little hole. We just wanted to see if it was actually in the hole, we didn't know if that was it's home or not. My step dad baited it with a toothpick and it was absolutely horrific watching it come out the way it does. I was the most scared. I was standing behind Mason, we didn't want to go anywhere near it."
Scott said that the creepy crawly has set up camp right next to the table where the family have their tea. Scott said: "I do hate spiders. It was my step dad holding the tooth pick, I couldn't hold that, I would have run away as soon as it came out of the hole. I've not seen a video like that before where someone's baited a spider out with a toothpick - you've got to have some big balls to do that.
"When my mum first told me about it and I knew there was a creepy crawly in the house, I got all squeamish and every time I walk through the room I can't stop flicking my head around from left to right at every bloody wall.
"At night it's even worse - you're going in there with a flashlight on. I eat my tea upstairs. I won't be eating my food in there again until it's found and taken away from the living room, I'll tell you that."
A terrified Scott said that he hasn't seen the spider since the video was recorded. Scott said: "If I'm honest, I don't know what to do next.
He shared the video on TikTok where it's amassed more than 657,000 likes and comments. One said: ""what is going on in the UK????????"
Another added: "I'd give him my house keys and move out." A third said: "The fact that you see it’s eyes reflecting."
One Harry Potter fan commented: "It’s Aragog." A fourth wrote: "Mateeee he's using a tooth pick!!! I'd be using a broom handle."
Another remarked: "Where’s the hoover; get the HOOVER!!!"
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