Brits urged to keep windows closed - and it's not because of the weather

UK households are being advised to keep their windows firmly shut for the next month.

This isn't due to soaring temperatures, as the Met Office predicts a more moderate climate over the coming weeks, with temperatures expected to hover between 18-25C towards the end of August and beginning of September.

The real reason behind this advice is spiders.

Read more:

• Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Hull with our free newsletter
• Get the headlines direct to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

Spider season has officially begun, with these eight-legged creatures making their way into British homes from mid-August until early October.

Spiders enter our homes to mate before seeking refuge for the winter. Male spiders roam around the house in search of a female mate, while females tend to stay put and wait for a male to find them.

So, if you spot a spider scurrying across your living room, it's likely a male. Spiders can infiltrate your home through any small gap, including cracks in windowsills, gaps in brickwork, around windows, or under doors.

They can squeeze through the tiniest of spaces, but assuming your home's brickwork, skirting boards and windows are all in good condition and you've taken measures to seal any holes, there's still one more way spiders can gain entry, reports the Express.

Open windows are an open invitation for spiders, who can scale the side of your house and enter through an open window. In late summer, when the weather is still warm enough to warrant opening windows for a cool breeze, spiders will seize the opportunity.

They also move around at night, so a window left slightly open overnight for fresh air is a prime opportunity for a spider to get in. The best way to prevent that is to simply keep your windows closed both day and night to avoid granting access to an uninvited eight-legged guest.

Of course, if you DO encounter a spider, it's not the end of the world. Though arachnophobia is extremely common, spiders are actually beneficial for your home. They consume flies and other insects, keeping your house free of almost everything else without fuss which can also prevent diseases.