Meet the latest Hollywood film star to make a home in Britain

A rare insect that was the unlikely star of the film The Silence Of The Lambs has been spotted in Britain.

The death's head hawk moth usually lives in the warmer climates of southern Europe and North Africa as its pupae do not usually survive the cold winters here. Its name comes from the characteristic skull and crossbones found on its back.

The discovery that the species was living here came when a strange-looking caterpillar was seen in the garden of Brian and Barbara Gilbert's house in Hampton last week. "It was bright yellow and very large - about four inches long - and just strolling across our garden," said Mrs Gilbert, 70, a retired nurse.

"Neither of us had seen one before but we managed to get someone to identify for us."

Mr Gilbert, 72, a former computer consultant, added: "It can certainly move quickly - it made it across 40 feet of garden in about five minutes."

In The Silence Of The Lambs, serial killer Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb leaves this type of moth in the throat of one of his victims.

Dr Ian Kitching, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum, said when fully grown the death's head hawk has a wing span of six inches.

He said: "They are pretty spectacular insects and it's rare to see them in this country, especially since it has been a fairly wet summer."

He added that with climate change the sight of these insects on Britain's lawns would be more common.