Nick Oldham found this huge spider in his spare bedroom at his home in Macclesfield.

It comes after experts warn homes could be invaded by giant spiders as big as mice trying to find a warm dry place to mate after a wet summer.

Nick, who estimates the spider had a six or seven inch legspan and found it lurking in the corner of his spare bedroom, said: "Imagine the horror on my son’s face when he spotted this Big Boy on his wall last night..it has been repatriated with others..at the end of our street.

"These things are seriously BIG!!!"

And the bad news for Arachnophobes is that females spiders heading indoors can lay HUNDREDS of eggs which could lead to potential infestations.

Scientist Chris Ayre reckons the Giant House Spiders will flock to British homes in a bid to find a mate and get out of the weather.

The spiders, whose painful bite is similar to a bee sting if it can pierce the skin, can sometimes grow up to 12 centimetres long.

Arachnologist Chris said: “Giant house spiders are the Golden Retrievers of the spider world, because they are much less shy than their relatives.”

The spiders, who prefer dark spaces and crevices, are among the largest spiders in Europe, but their fangs are not often long enough to pierce our skin.

And experts have said there is no cause for alarm if you find one, with homeowners advised to use a postcard, glass or jam jar to move them outside.

The male spiders are often said to sample the silk that females leave behind, tasting it to see if it is from the same species, making it a good idea to dust and keep your house clean in a bid to prevent entering in the first place.

Have you found a giant spider? Send a photo to macclesfieldexpress@menmedia.co.uk