Fears of invasion of Chinese crabs after species spotted in UK town - nowhere near the sea

An invasive species of crab which can 'give a nasty nip' and is invading Britain's inland waterways has been spotted walking down a road close to a city.

The Chinese mitten crab, measuring around 10 inches, was seen by locals close to a rowing lake in Peterborough, Cambs, yesterday evening (October 10).

The green-grey crustaceans, which have dense ‘fur’ around their white-tipped claws, have been found across mainland Europe and caused carnage in Germany.

And the species, originating from Southeast Asia, have also been known to attack native crabs and compete with them for food.

They live in inland waterways, such as rivers and canals, and are most frequently found by fishermen.

Following the sighting at Ferry Meadows Country Park, officials at the site warned locals about their “nasty nip” while adding the species could not be stopped.

They said: “We’ve had a few reports of Chinese Mitten Crab over the past week, particularly around Orton Water. Unfortunately there is very little we can do about them as they are naturally spreading through our waterways and water courses.

"These recent sightings have been reported to the relevant authorities. They don’t pose any threat to people or dogs but would probably give a nasty nip with their pincers if anything gets too close, so we would advise visitors to keep their distance.”

A spokesperson for The Marine Biological Association said the crabs can be identified by their white-tipped, furry claws.

They said: “It is important that their spread is monitored and therefore we encourage the public to either submit sightings.