Two massive and potentially rare caterpillars have been spotted by a Radlett family.

Anna Dockerty, of Beech Avenue, found what she believes to be two "death moth" caterpillars on her jasmine plant.

She said: "We noticed a lot of droppings on our patio and originally we thought we may have had a rat or a mouse. My husband even went and bought some traps. This was a couple of weeks ago.

"When I looked up I saw a very fat caterpillar, about ten to 12cm, and there are two of them."

The caterpillars are believed to be the death moth caterpillar, which featured in the horror film, Silence of the Lambs.

The death moth caterpillar is rarely seen in the UK - it is commonly found in southern Europe and north Africa.

Mrs Dockerty, who has two daughters aged eight and ten, said they have contacted the Hertfordshire butterfly conservation.

She added: "My daughters are very excited about this, although my youngest is a little scared of the creatures. One of them has created a film around itself and the other one tends to move around a lot, which we've named wriggly Jimmy."