Tube web spiders

[Answerprancer]

(Not to be confused with 'funnel' web spiders)

I heard that these normally mainland European based beasties have taken up residence here in Blighty.
There was a news report about them having colonised Kew Bridge (SW London) but apparently they can be found in other areas of UK.
I read that they have a painful bite - similar in pain level to a bee sting but are otherwise harmless.
Has anyone seen one IRL ?

[Milvus]

Quite well spread around Southern England and Wales now, bigger populations around ports. I assume that's how they first got here. You are right about the bite, it lasts for about 5 or 6 hours. Remember all spiders bite and all spiders are venomous but few in the UK can pierce human skin. About a dozen different UK types are recorded to bite but aren't dangerous, just painful