Passengers on London tube train panic when man lets a tarantula loose in cruel prank

The critter looks pretty real. Photo / Youtube / Trollstation

A tarantula terrified passengers on the tube after a prankster brought his eight-legged friend on board.

The enormous spider can be seen crawling up the arm of one of the people in the carriage as part of the prank.

Passengers flee after it falls to the floor, running to escape as the train approaches Baker Street.

A person behind the camera speculates that the spider crawling along the floor and chairs is remote controlled.

But the critter certainly looks real, and most people in the carriage seem happy to hurry onto the platform to get away from it.

A few people can be seen taking no chances, and climbing as high as possible on the seats of the train to avoid the spider.

The video was uploaded to the YouTube channel Trollstation, which features the tricks and social experiments of prominent British pranksters.