Swarms of sex-crazed spiders - some as big as mice -are set to invade living rooms across Greater Manchester.

Last September, scores of M.E.N readers sent in pictures of giant house spiders the found lurking in their homes - some as big as 12cm long.

And if you are an arachnophobe, the truth about the species is far, far worse than you can imagine.

A top expert says the animals are actually lurking in our homes for most of the year but choose the end of summer to leave their hiding places... in order to mate.

Steve McGrail, from Pro-Kill Environmental in Middleton , said that there are not more necessarily more spiders come September - but that normally-reclusive males surface from their hiding places around homes- including attics, cupboards, basements and garden sheds - to seek females to breed with.

Steve, a pest control expert with 25 years of experience, told the M.E.N.: “The male spiders come out the woodwork during this time of year as it is breeding season and they are searching for female spiders.

"They are actually there in the home at other times of year but they are hidden away - under the floor, in the attic, in the basement. If you find them, it’s pretty much impossible to rid your house of them.

“They may disappear for a period of time, but other spiders will come in their place. The best thing to do if you find them is put them in a shed - it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind. If you put them outside they are likely to die.”

Residents across the region have already taken to social media to report early sightings of the unwanted critters.

Tom Ivinson, who lives in Chorlton , told the M.E.N: “Moving to my new flat in Chorlton has been like being forced to do a cameo performance in Eight Legged Freaks. My nan says it’s because autumn is just round the corner, but I think they are just out to get me.”

And Mancunians have also taken to social media to report their finds.

One user tweeted: “How am I supposed to live alone in Manchester without family? I just had to get someone else to kill a spider LMAO.”

Dionne Blake was hoping other twitter users would come to her rescue, when she posted: “Anyone in the Manchester area free to come catch a spider for me?”

Jamie said: “I didn’t realise moving to Manchester meant dealing with spiders the size of Aragog” - the terrifyingly giant Harry Potter acromantula.

The giant house spider have a bit which can even penetrate human skin leaving a stinging feeling, though they will not bite unless provoked.

They used to hold the Guinness Book of World Records for top spider speed until 1987, when their crown was taken by the quick-paced sun spider - the Usain Bolt of the spider world.

Is your house already infested with Giant House Spiders? Send us your pictures and videos - tweet us at @MENnewsdesk, email them to website@men-news.co.uk, of send them via our Facebook page .