are also available online.

So successful is the antivenom programme here at the Australian Reptile Park that nobody has been killed by one since it started in 1981.The scheme relies, however, on members of the public either catching the spiders or collecting their egg sacs.

In a van plastered with a giant crocodile sticker, each week Ms Teni's team drives all over Australia's most famous city, picking up Sydney funnel-webs that have been handed in at drop-off points such as local veterinary practices.There are two reasons why these spiders are so dangerous, she explains: not only is their venom extremely potent, but they also live exclusively in a densely populated region where they're more likely to encounter humans.Handyman Charlie Simpson is one such person. He moved into his first home with his girlfriend a few months ago, and the keen gardener has already found two Sydney funnel-webs. He took the second spider to the vet, where Ms Teni picked it up shortly after.

"I had gloves on at the time, but realistically I should have had leather gloves on because their fangs are so big and strong," the 26-year-old says."I [just thought] I had better catch it because I kept getting told you're meant to take them back to be milked, because it's so critical."

"This is curing my fear of spiders," he jokes.

As Ms Teni offloads one arachnid that was delivered to her in a Vegemite jar, she stresses her team isn't telling Australians to go looking for the spiders and "throw themselves into danger".Although the virus can sometimes make people seriously ill, there is no evidence it is spreading in the UK and the risk to the general public is "very low", the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

The virus is found in many parts of the world, including Africa, South America and mainland Europe.Climate change and other factors have been pushing mosquitoes - and the diseases they carry - further north in recent years.

West Nile virus causes either very minor symptoms or none at all - but around 20% of infected people can experience headaches, high fever and skin issues. In rare cases, it can kill through serious brain illnesses, including encephalitis or meningitis.No specific treatment or vaccines exist for humans.