In article ,
Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:

They are poisonous, but aren't dangerous to any animal above the
size of a large fly - we are, er, quite a bit larger. The itchy
spot is probably the response to the poison, which shows how minor
it is.

The main allergic reaction is to the hair of tarantulas and relatives,
but I don't know if any UK spiders shed hairs. Anyway, they cause
very, very few reactions so aren't a significant problem.

None of this applies in South America or Australia.

Not just South America and Australia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrode...edecimguttatus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus_mactans

Those aren't a significant problem, either, despite the Merkins'
hysteria:

http://utextension.tennessee.edu/pub...nts/PB1193.pdf

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.