BRITONS are more scared of spiders than terrorist attacks or even death, a new survey reveals.

Creepy crawlies such as spiders, cockroaches and other bugs were voted the nation's number one fear.

Terrorist attacks came second in the poll of 1,000 British adults who were asked what made them most frightened.

Also causing a shiver down the spine were snakes in third place and heights in fourth.

Death came only fifth in the list of the nation's 20 most frightening things. Visiting the dentist came sixth; needles and injections seventh; and public appearances and speeches at work or family events came eighth.

Fear of debt was in ninth place, while flying came in tenth. The survey of 1,000 adults was carried out by researchers across Britain on behalf of Universal Pictures.

Psychologist Donna Dawson said it was not surprising creepy crawlies were considered scarier than terrorist attacks.

She said: "This is because fear of small creatures that scuttle about on four or more legs is a much more ancient, primordial fear, going back to caveman days and what might be lurking in the black darkness of our cave homes which could hurt us."