An invasive species of crab which can 'give a nasty nip' and is invading Britain's inland waterways has been spotted walking down a road close to a city.<br /><br />The Chinese mitten crab, measuring around 10 inches, was seen by locals close to a rowing lake in Peterborough, Cambs., yesterday evening (October 10).<br /><br />The green-grey crustaceans, which have dense ‘fur’ around their white-tipped claws, have been found across mainland Europe and caused carnage in Germany.<br /><br />And the species, originating from Southeast Asia, have also been known to attack native crabs and compete with them for food.<br /><br />They live in inland waterways, such as rivers and canals, and are most frequently found by fishermen.<br /><br />Following the sighting at Ferry Meadows Country Park, officials at the site warned locals about their “nasty nip” while adding the species could not be stopped.<br /><br />They said: “We’ve had a few reports of Chinese Mitten Crab over the past week, particularly around Orton Water.<br /><br />"Unfortunately there is very little we can do about them as they are naturally spreading through our waterways and water courses. <br /><br />"These recent sightings have been reported to the relevant authorities.<br /><br />"They don’t pose any threat to people or dogs but would probably give a nasty nip with their pincers if anything gets too close, so we would advise visitors to keep their distance.”<br /><br />A spokesperson for The Marine Biological Association said the crabs can be identified by their white-tipped, furry claws.<br /><br />They said: “It is important that their spread is monitored and therefore we encourage the public to either submit sightings.
