CLAIRE Brown’s fear of spiders is so great, the mere sight of one in the house is likely to reduce her to a quivering wreck.

But she faced her arachnophobia – and raised close to £500 for charity – by enduring a close encounter with a tarantula called Rosie. Mrs Brown, of Caerleon, wanted to help Casey’s Cause, a campaign to help buy equipment for Newport youngster Casey Hard, who has brain damage. Mrs Brown and husband Andrew have known Casey’s parents Anthony and Nahella for years., and Mr Brown and Mrs Hard are planning a sky dive next year as part of the fundraising effort.

Mrs Brown, who works at the Office for National Statistics, said: “I got to thinking what I could do, and settled on something I hate and fear really badly. So I thought, why not hold a tarantula?”

Enter Rosie, the furry pet of Mrs Hard’s brother’s girlfriend. Mrs Brown held the spider for a minute at the Star Inn in Ponthir.

She said: “I just kept thinking if Casey and his family could be so brave, I could face a huge fear to help them. I felt so proud and pleased with myself – but this doesn’t mean I’ll now be able to cope with a house spider!”