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A dad claims he is unable to walk after being bitten five times by poisonous false widow spiders while asleep in bed.

Lewis Pearce, 26, has horrific red bumps and sores that are oozing, and he says he has been in so much pain he is unable to work or shower.

The removals worker claims his three-year-old son was also bitten, leaving him with bumps all over his legs, and he fears his daughters, aged seven months and five years, will be next.

Mr Pearce claims he asked the council to get rid of the spiders at the block of flats where he lives in Southampton, Hampshire.

The dad-of-three claims he was told that the council "doesn't deal with spiders" and no action was taken.

(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

Mr Pearce said he is now "scared" for the safety of his three children - five-year-old Lacey, three-year-old Freddie - who was also bitten - and seven-month-old Bethany.

His wife, Nadine Pearce, 26, said: "It petrifies me.

"If my children are bitten like he has been, they won't stand a chance.

(Image: Lewis Pearce/Solent News)

"When people are being bitten alive, how are we meant to pay rent?

"I'm meant to be here looking after my children and Lewis can't work.

"It feels like we are stuck in a dark tunnel."

(Image: Lewis Pearce/Solent News)

Mr Pearce said he has been told by his doctor that he had suffered an allergic reaction to the spider's venom, and has been unable to work since he was bitten in July.

He added: "I can't walk as it's very difficult and I haven't been able to shower properly for over a month as I can't get the dressing wet.

"The bites are painful and now I'm scared for my children, especially for my seven-month-old baby who sleeps in the same room as me, and during the night is when I'm usually bitten."

(Image: Lewis Pearce/Solent News)

Another resident at Canberra Towers, who asked not to be named, said: "This isn't a home for my daughter.

"There are three or four spiders on every single level."

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "We take all complaints of this nature seriously.

(Image: Lewis Pearce/Solent News)

"While we haven't been notified of any other households having this issue, we will investigate and advise tenants accordingly."

The false widow, commonly found in South America, can grow up to 14mm in size, considerably larger than the average British cupboard spider.

Often mistaken for the deadly black widow, the venomous spider is believed to have travelled to Britain on fruit crates from the Canary Islands in the 1800s.

Dave Rumble, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "False Widow spiders are here to stay since they were first noticed 10 to 20 years ago."

In 2014, an Irish man went into cardiac arrest and was put in intensive care after being bitten by what he claimed was a false widow.

Last year, four schools in east London were shut down for up to three weeks after an infestation.

Recent reports have suggested that incidents of false widow bites are likely to increase, as wet weather has forced the bugs to seek shelter inside people's homes.

(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

According to the Natural History Museum, the effects of the spider's poison are usually no worse than a wasp's sting, with symptoms lasting no longer than 24 hours.

It says wounds can become infected, however.

False widow spiders are regarded as non-aggressive and are similar in appearance to black widows.

They are usually found in sheds or outbuildings, but do find their way into homes.

How do I get rid of false widow spiders?

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Thoroughly vacuum the affected area to remove webs and any spiders that are present.

If that isn’t possible, the British Pest Control Association suggests using insecticidal sprays.

Some pesticides may not be approved for use in outside garden areas or may not affect spiders.

Those two steps should be sufficient, the BPCA said.

For a long-term solution, seal any potential areas where spiders could build a web or enter a home.

Alternatively, use a trained professional pest controller.