Two tarantulas may be on the loose in a village after three of their babies were found abandoned in a car park.

The RSPCA said it had rescued the baby Brazilian bird-eating spiders after they were found discarded in pots in Derbyshire.

Inspectors said the containers were run over by a vehicle in the village of Somercotes but the driver believes he saw two “larger spiders” possibly the parents – scuttling away.

The tarantula is thought to be the Brazilian salmon pink bird-eater, one of the world’s largest of the species with a leg span of up to 25cm.

The spiders are partially pink and usually live on the forest floor in Brazil and eat insects, lizards, mice and the occasional small bird.

Experts said the missing tarantulas may not survive long in English weather. Yet the unseasonably warm climate has led to concerns they may roam for longer than expected.

Kristy Ludlam, an RSPCA inspector, said an “understandably shaken” woman had found the baby spiders in Bateman’s Yard livery stable’s car park in Somercotes last Thursday and contacted the RSPCA as she is terrified of them.

Ten pots that contained three young Brazilian bird-eating spiders found in a car park in Somercotes, Derbyshire. Photograph: RSPCA/PA

“It appears someone ran over two of the pots and the driver told the woman who called us he thought he saw two larger spiders. No bodies were found, so it is assumed they may have escaped,” she said.

“We collected all the pots and took them to a specialist who found three baby arachnids in them, which he believes are bird-eating spiders – when he opened one pot a spider ran up his arm.

“He is keeping all the pots warm and secure as there is a possibility more eggs may hatch.”

It is an offence under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to release or allow any non-native species to escape into the wild.

The owner of a nearby kennels and cattery said she was very worried. “Two of the workers ran around the kennels screaming when they heard the news,” said Sarah Towndrow from Birchwood boarding kennels and cattery in Birchwood Lane, near where the pots were found.

“We are getting a vet out so they can take a good look and advise us on what we need to do. We’re also all going to be searching the area to make sure they’re not here and then report it if they’re here.

“They could cause real harm to the animals here, so we will be keeping a very close eye on them. There’s a lot of places they could hide and keep out of the way so the search will be very thorough. People feel frightened and it makes the animals vulnerable.”

The rescued spiders have been taken to Arnold and Carlton veterinary centre in Nottingham where they will be cared for until they are ready to be rehomed, the RSPCA said.