Spiders are about to start invading UK homes in their annual tradition of terrifying everyone by hiding in baths.

Huge spiders are being sighted in UK homes as the mating season is now upon us and they need somewhere warm and dry to lay their eggs.

Generally, spiders are most active during September through to November, but a wet and cool August could tempt them inside.

The heavy rainfall and cooler weather over the weekend could also encourage spiders to make the move into your homes a bit earlier than usual.

The photo below, taken by Chris Pentney, shows a huge spider climbing up a roll of toilet paper.

Probably a good time to start thinking about moving house

And the Newcastle Chronicle reported that the above video, shot in Gosforth on Sunday, shows a 7cm spider racing around curtains.

Our eight-legged friends can have a leg span of up to 12cm and female spiders can stay in your home for the whole of their seven year life span.

But many spiders you'll find lurking in your home at this time of year are males in search of a mate.

Females are the largest of the two and can carry up to 100 offspring at once - often looking for somewhere warm to lay her eggs.

Anyone fancy a bath?

Don't be too hard on them though - spiders are an important part of the food chain. They're nature's pest controllers and help to reduce the population of insects like wasps.

Spider expert Simon Garrett, of Bristol Zoological Society, said most species of spider stay outside all the time.

But mating season changes their behaviour and during mating season, some will move into a house if there is an entry point for them.

He said the best way to stop spiders coming into your house is to ensure there aren’t any leaky pipes or openings.

Here's some tips from the professionals on how to keep the spiders away.

How to keep spiders out

Seal off your home

Spiders will exploit little cracks and gaps which can open up around your doors and windows, so fill them in where you can. You can also spray pesticide in these areas to deter creepy crawlies.

Buy some vinegar

Plus citrus, eucalyptus, and peppermint, as it's believed spiders don’t like any of these smells. You can peel lemons and oranges and leave the peel in places where spiders might like to hide to put them off, but replace it regularly as the aroma won’t last forever.

Get the hoover out

Leaving leftover food around can attract insects and they in turn are a calling card for spiders.

Make sure you also look out for any spider webs or egg sacs (they will be shaped like a ball and contained in the web) and vacuum them up too. Spiders tend to like dark, hidden away locations so get the tip of the vacuum into all the nooks and crannies and behind the sofa and furniture.

Change your furniture

Spiders are believed to hate the smell of cedar wood - and a cheaper option is to buy blocks of cedar wood and place them at locations where spiders might be likely to enter.