GET ready to jump on to the sofa - spiders are launching an eight-legged invasion of our homes.

Creepy crawly numbers have rocketed this year due to the mild autumn, with average temperatures of 10.2C.

But heat-loving arachnids are now "breaking in" to people's homes following the recent cold snap.

And a biology professor said numbers would rise further if temperatures continue to drop.

Daniel Halenko, director at Blackburn Alarms, of Sunnyhurst Road, Blackburn said they had seen a huge increase of spiders dangling in front of sensors and setting off burglar alarms over the last month.

He added: "We always have a lot of spiders starting to be a pest at this time of year, but there are more then ever this year."

He said over the past two or three weeks nearly all of their false alarm calls had been as a result of spiders.

Richard Hill, 59 of Somerset Avenue, Wilpshire, said his home was crawling with them this year after police were alerted.

Mr Hill, a retired insurance broker, said the alarm in his house was connected to the police station and officers were nearly called out to a "spider alarm" at 1.45am two weeks ago.

Mr Hill said: "It was a shock to come down to see a big spider hanging in front of the alarm in the kitchen.

"The police were automatically called out and I had to cancel the request. They have got better things to be doing than that, but it could have been a real problem if I wasn't there.

"They are a pest, I've never seen so many. I'm going around each night clearing them away to make sure the police aren't alerted unneccessarily."

John Sharp, technical director at security firm, AGS Tec Ltd, of Philips Road, Blackburn, added: "There have been so many over recent weeks, they get inside the camera boxes to get away from the cold winds. There have been more than normal for the time of year."

According to the Met Office, autumn temperatures have been above average at 10.2C, nearly two degrees warmer than year's autumn. As a result spiders reproduced to the maximum.

Before October 13, night time temperatures were not dropping below an average 8-10C, but after that date have been falling as low as 3C, causing the influx of spiders to search for a warmer environment - our homes!

Professor Caroline Pond, teacher of general biology for Open University, said: "Spiders reach their largest size at this time of year.

"After a mild period they breed more because as are more insects and plants to feed on when temperatures are high. When it cools down they want to move to the warmer environment they have become used to - so be prepared for more."