A GIANT spider in the sink caused a stir at Foxes Piece School in Marlow on Thursday when pupils went to wash their hands.

But kind-hearted Year 4 children decided to leave it there because they didn't want to harm it.

The story was reported to Marlow Free Press editor Steve Cohen today when he visited the school to give a talk on editing newspapers.

Mr Cohen, 48, asked Sycamore Class pupils to write a short story about the most interesting thing that had happened to them and their friends.

And he was amazed when, one by one, they all recounted the tale of the spider in the sink.

The class is currently compiling a newspaper report on the Romans and doing a special story on Boudicca, a legendary Celtic Queen of the Iceni Tribe.

Mr Cohen said: "I was very impressed by their reporting skills. Although the Romans must have feared Boudicca, I bet she was not half as terrifying as that spider in the sink at Foxes Piece."

Mr Cohen was also impressed by the range of costumes worn by pupils for a book day event. All of them dressed as children's book characters - and there was even a dalek on show.

"Luckily, no one wore a spider costume, because I think I would have run away if they had," joked Mr Cohen.