A student just back from a holiday looked on in horror as a scorpion leapt out of her suitcase and scuttled across the room.

Megan Royle had returned to her student house in Milburn Road, Gillingham, after flying back from her mum's wedding in South Africa, when she got the fright.

She said: "I was rushing to unpack as I was going out to meet friends."

"Then I saw this thing leap out from my clothes and run across the bed.

“I didn’t clock straight away what it was.

"I thought to myself, ‘that can’t be a scorpion'.

"It was so close to my hand, it was really scary.

"I study forensic science so I'm used to gory stuff, but I had no idea what to do with this.

"What's the protocol when you find a scorpion?"

"Then I saw this thing leap out from my clothes and run across the bed..." Megan Royle

Megan rang her mum, Lindsey Mallon, who was still in South Africa, for advice.

The 20-year-old said: “Mum told me not to worry, it’s only the little ones that are dangerous.

“But this one was really tiny, it was about two inches long, so then I was freaking out even more.”

In a panic she called her friends for help.

They managed to dash around her room and trap the venomous critter and they contacted the RSPCA.

Animal collection officer Brian Milligan went to collect the scorpion.

He said: “It was small and sandy coloured.

"It seemed to be well so I took it straight to our specialist exotics centre in Brighton.”

Experts at Brighton Reptile Rescue believe the scorpion is an olive thick tail, native to South Africa.

The tiny scorpion - which is the size of a fingernail - can only be kept in the UK with a Dangerous Wild Animal licence as they are highly venomous and can be potentially dangerous.

Megan was surprised the creature had survived the 11-hour, 9,000km journey from South Africa.

“I guess I thought airport security would have picked up on it..." Megan Royle

She said: "I was just shocked that this little scorpion had made it all of that way.

“I guess I thought airport security would have picked up on it.

"I didn't buy any postcards or souvenirs - it's just my luck that I'd manage to bring home a scorpion."

While the RSPCA is called to collect dozens of stowaways every year, Brighton Reptile Rescue said it had never seen this species of scorpion before.

Mr Milligan added: “This is actually much more common than people realise and we’re often being asked for help with lizards, snakes, frogs, spiders and even scorpions who have stowed away in unsuspecting holidaymakers’ suitcases or in shipments of fruit.

“As we approach the Easter and summer holidays, we’d urge families to shake out clothes and check suitcases before and during packing to ensure they don’t bring home a surprise souvenir with them. ”

The scorpion is being cared for by experts at Brighton Reptile Rescue and will then be moved to a permanent, specialist home elsewhere.

Megan said she might go and visit her little South African friend once he's safely contained in a zoo.

The RSPCA would always advise people to treat any unidentified animal with caution until identified accurately and not to try to handle an accidentally imported animal that has been discovered.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals in desperate need of care visit the website.

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

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