Last updated at 12:00, Thursday, 14 March 2013

A terrified shopper got more than she bargained for when she returned home from the supermarket to find a scorpion in her groceries.

The woman, from Dumfries, unwittingly carried the creature home in a bunch of bananas she bought at a local store.

She called the Scottish SPCA, who identified the creature as a desert hairy scorpion.

Although not deadly, the native to North America can have a painful bite.

The animal organisation is looking for a home for the scorpion after the find on March 7.

Rescue officer Tricia Smith: “The lady was terrified when she called us, although she had managed to contain the scorpion in a jar.

“Desert hairy scorpions aren’t deadly but, if bitten, the pain could vary from that of a bee-sting to intense inflammation and sickness.

“It’s just bigger than a 50p piece at the moment, indicating it’s quite young as an adult can reach up to six inches long.

First published at 11:55, Thursday, 14 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk