Spiders scare us more than Osama

People are more scared of spiders than terror attacks and even death, according to a study yesterday.

Creepy-crawlies were placed first in a survey of 1,000 adults with a Bin Laden-style terror attack second followed by snakes, fear of heights and death. Visiting the dentist came sixth, injections seventh, speaking in public eighth, debt ninth and flying a plane tenth.

Ghosts and crime did not even make the top ten. Psychologist Donna Dawson said she understood people's phobia of spiders.

She said: 'Fear of small creatures that scuttle about on four or more legs is a primordial fear - going back to what might be lurking in the black darkness of our cave which could hurt us.'

The study was commissioned by Universal Pictures to mark the DVD release of the horror movie Van Helsing.