A Bristol University student had a shock when she found a live scorpion in a clothing parcel from fast fashion firm Shein.

“I thought it was a toy – and then it moved,” Sofia Alonso-Mossinger told BBC News, adding it had been “pretty scary”.

Housemate Phoebe Hunt, 18, came running when she heard screaming. But zoology student flatmate Oliver James was the closest thing to an expert on hand, and transferred the clawed creature into a plastic container with a pair of kitchen tongs.

It was later collected by an expert. Shein has been approached for comment and said it was looking into the incident.

Footage courtesy of Phoebe Hunt.

Video journalist – Pia Harold