A pair of brothers have been enjoying their five minutes of fame after their pet spider featured on tv and in newspapers across the country.

The Macclesfield Express encouraged readers to send in their pictures of larger than average spiders after it was revealed that huge spiders are invading our homes in search for warmth at the end of the summer.

And after sending in a picture of their pet Mr Skinny Legs, Jack Hamer, seven, and brother Tom, five, have been called upon to appear on a children’s tv channel CBBC to discuss their new pet, which they found in their bath.

Mum Izzy Harmer, 35, who is married to Sean, 38, and is also mum to one-year-old Harry, said: “It’s all gone a bit mental!

"When I sent the picture to the Macc Express I thought that would be the end of it. Next minute the Daily Mail were at our door and CBBC called to see if we would go on Newsround.”

She added: “The boys loved it. The crew came around for a bout two hours. They had a spider expert with them and talked about the importance of spiders and then they did a cobweb count in the back garden, which they loved.

She added: "I think it’s important because it’s showing kids that you don’t need to be scared of spiders at all.”

Jack and Tom, who both got to Whirley Primary School, also took part in an cobweb count in their back garden as part of the Newsround feature, which is expected to be shown over the weekend.

Jack and Tom keep decided to keep 'Mr Skinny Legs' after finding the huge spider in their bath