Tarantula facts Over 800 species Largest has leg span of 28 cm Most are not dangerous to humans Bite can be painful They use large fangs to inject venom into their victims Some flick hairs into the face of predators

A six-inch tarantula which escaped in the garden of a house has been found hiding under a log after a 17-hour search.

Incey went missing from a house in Newport, south Wales, at about 2000 BST on Monday after crawling towards a neighbour's garden.

The fully-grown female has had its fangs removed and cannot give a fatal bite, although it could cause a child to have a headache and vomit.

The spider's owner, Andy Reynolds, had taken his pet into his garden when it was frightened off by a dog.

She would suck you to death rather than bite you Owner Andy Reynolds

Mr Reynolds, who has had Incey for a month, said the tarantula was more at danger from those around her.

"She would suck you to death rather than bite you," he said.

"She cannot bite, which is a shame in a way because predators like birds will probably carry her off if they catch her."

Spit hairs

Incey was found under a log in Mr Reynolds' garden on the Brynbevan estate at about 1300 BST on Tuesday.

Tarantulas are known to flick bristles from their rears and hind legs to fend off potential attackers.

Inspector Mark Riley, of Gwent Police, said: "I've been told if this bites a child they would get a nasty headache and vomiting but that they would recover.

"It apparently spits hairs at you if it is frightened.

"It should only last two or three days in the cold weather - unless it finds somewhere to hibernate."