A SUPERMARKET worker was taken to hospital when she was stung by a scorpion she disturbed in a newly-delivered box of bananas.

The unwelcome intruder took Safeway's assistant Karen Dixon by surprise as she opened the fruit crate at the store in Peterlee, County Durham, on Sunday evening.

Colleagues called 999 after Karen was stung by the stowaway which carries a toxic sting in its tail.

She was given anti-venom and anti-histamine injections and quickly recovered.

The scorpion, still alive and kicking was being kept under lock and key at the store where staff yesterday were awaiting the arrival of officers from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A Safeway spokeswoman confirmed that until it was inspected by experts no one knew where the creature had come from or what species of scorpion it was.

And though it appears that Karen had come safely through the stinging experience one of Durham Constabulary's Wildlife Liaison Officers, Acting Inspector Eddie Bell revealed it could all have ended so differently.

The least dangerous scorpions give a sting similar to a wasp sting. But, he explained Buthid scorpions which originate in Africa and Egypt could administer a sting which could prove lethal in between 35 to 40 minutes.

One of the region's leading wildlife experts, Mr Bell said that since the introduction of pressurised and frozen packaging it had become more unusual for spider like insects to survive transportation.

"Nevertheless some do and the crucial element is for them to do be identified as swiftly as possible," he said.

Last night, he offered to talk to the store to offer them advice on avoiding the arrival of further arachnids.