A man has told how his finger went red and numb after being bitten by a terrifying-looking spider in his Gravesend garden.

Ben Tree, of Thistle Road, said the creature "sank its fangs" into him before he had to shake his hand "vigorously" to get it off.

The 40-year-old said the spider - up to 1.5 inches and with diamond markings on its back - left his finger numb for around three hours.

He revealed his brush with the spider after a Gillingham mother told how she fears her daughter was bitten by Britain's most venomous spider.

Mr Tree said: "Whilst doing some work in my garden I noticed something in a small hole in a fence post.

"Being the person I am, I went to have a look but could not quite make out what it was.

"So I found myself a small stick and a jar, pushed the stick into the hole and held the jar the other side.

"To my surprise a large spider measuring around one to 1.5 inches fell into the jar.

"I then put the spider into a bowl and poked it around a little with my finger as I am a very curious person, and to my surprise its fangs sunk into my finger and I had to shake my hand vigorously to get it off."

Mr Tree added: "It made the tip of my finger numb for around two to three hours. The spider was brown/black in colour with diamond like shape markings on its back.

"So be advised if you see a spider like this do not touch it because it could be more harmful to other people than it was to me."

Have you seen a large spider like the one pictured? Leave a comment below.