A GREENOCK woman who is petrified of spiders has told how she is facing ‘a living hell’ at Halloween.

Engineer Angela Slaven, who has a lifelong phobia of the creatures, revealed how even her local supermarket turns into a house of horrors and she has to run a gauntlet of fear when she steps over her front door.

On a recent visit to a local store she came face to face with a decorative eight-legged furry beast lurking at the checkouts.

The mum-of-two, who suffers from the severest form of arachnophobia, was reduced to tears and suffered a panic attack.

Despite seeking medical help to bring her phobia under control the 46-year-old dreads this time of year.

Angela, of Murdieston Street, said: “It really is no laughing matter for me.

“Halloween is the hardest time of the year and it seems to be getting worse.

“The commercialisation means that the fake spiders and their webs are everywhere.

“I have had to stop going into supermarkets on my way home from work. I recently went in to Tesco in Port Glasgow and there was big massive tinsel spider hanging round the checkout. I had such panic.

“The staff were brilliant and they helped me get my shopping but you feel so out of control. I can’t even go and get my sons’ Halloween costumes.”

Angela is urging supermarkets and other retailers to reconsider the ‘over the top’ decorations.

She added: “I don’t know where all the spider decorations have come from,

Halloween is about ghosts and ghouls.

“This is the worst time of year because it is Halloween and also real spiders start to come into the house.

“I was upset because the management of stores do not seem to take it seriously.”

Terrified Angela, who works for BAE Systems in Scotstoun, has been supported by her husband Kevin and sons Matthew, 10, and Sean, nine, both pictured, as she tries to conquer her fears.

She said: “I am not scared of anything else but spiders. My sister does reptile parties and I can handle a python or insects.

“I am better in the house than I used to be but my son Matthew is my superhero, as he gets spiders out for me.”

Angela has been affected by the phobia since she was a child.

She added: “I have no idea where it came from.

“My sister has always been one of my biggest supports - she is six years younger but she used to get up at all times of the night to get rid of any spiders in my room. I want to raise awareness of phobias and how they can take over people’s lives.

“No-one talks about it.”

Angela remains determined to bring her problem under control so that it will not impact upon her sons.

She went to her GP for help and she was referred for desensitisation therapy - but can do little to stop shops and other places from inadvertently leaving her paralysed by fear at this time of year.

Angela added: “The therapy has really helped. I can now handle seeing small spiders, but I mean those big furry things in supermarkets are just awful.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: ''We are sorry for any distress our decorations may have caused. They are designed to be fun and are enjoyed by the vast majority of customers looking to buy Halloween-themed products."