Supermarket workers got a massive shock after they peered inside a packet of bananas – and spotted a live SCORPION.
The venomous creature had made it all the way from Costa Rica to the UK by stowing away among the fruit.
Sales assistant Angela Parren spotted something moving as she restocked shelves at the Phoenix Stores in St Stephen, Cornwall.
As she lent in for a closer look the three-inch long scorpion scuttled into view.
Petrified Ms Parren called for help and co-workers carefully moved the packet to a store room before calling the police and the RSPCA.
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They were eventually urged to contact nearby Newquay Zoo who offered to give it a new home.
Zookeepers soon identified it as a juvenile black edged scorpion (centruroides limbatus), which are native to Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.
The species is not considered a major threat to humans but experts say a sting can still be extremely painful and in rare cases can leave people needing hospital treatment.
Les Howell, owner of Phoenix Stores, said: “We didn’t know what to do with it. It didn’t seem right to kill it so we phoned our wholesaler for advice.
“They suggested we phone the police who suggested the RSPCA who suggested DEFRA who were closed for the Bank Holiday.
“So we phoned Newquay Zoo and spoke to Gareth O’Dare who is the Tropical House keeper.
“He suggested we take it out to the Zoo which we did after putting the whole bag of bananas inside a secure plastic box.
“He told us that it was a juvenile black edged scorpion which is native to Costa Rica where the bananas came from.
“Although a sting from it’s tail won’t kill humans it will still pack a punch.”
