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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Alex Dunne & Sam Roberts

RTE Prime Time viewers all saying the same thing after 'terrifying' image appears on screen

RTE viewers were all saying the same thing after a "terrifying" message on false widow spiders appeared on screen.

Presenter Fran McNulty ended the show by warning viewers about the rise in noble false widow spider bites in Ireland.

Bites from the venomous spider have become rampant in Ireland can require hospitalisation, new research has revealed.

A study by NUI Galway researchers found the noble false widow can elicit similar symptoms to its black widow cousin.

Bite symptoms can be both localised and systemic, ranging from mild to debilitating pain and mild to intense swelling.

Some victims have experienced tremors, reduced or elevated blood pressure, nausea and impaired mobility. In rare instances, victims have developed minor wounds at the bite site or had to be treated for severe bacterial infections.

Fran McNulty(right), Miriam O'Callaghan (centre) and Sarah McInerney (right) (Naoise Culhane / RTÉ)

And RTE host Fran ended last night's Prime Time by advising viewers at home to be wary in bed and as they got dressed, as these were the two times the spider liked to strike, before signing off barely containing a cheeky smile.

The "terrifying" message was accompanied by an enormous picture of the venomous spider - and it provoked a big reaction on social media.

One viewer wrote: "Anyone else equally amused and terrified by that closing by @franmcnulty to #rtept."

While another added: "Thanks for the bedtime horror message."

Here is all the best of the social media reaction:

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