STAFF have been on the run from a pair of finger-snapping crabs at the Aquarium of the Lakes.

The two huge Edible crabs, with shells the size of dinner plates have been at the aquarium in Newby Bridge for two weeks and have already proved a handful for wary staff, who have resorted to using broom handles to try to defend themselves.

With a massive two-foot claw span, these crabs weigh more than seven pounds each and are believed to be among the largest found in British waters.

Jonathan Turner, displays supervisor, said: "We've always told visitors that edible crabs are capable of snapping a pencil between their claws but Buster and Bobby have gone way beyond that.

"One of them managed to grab hold of the broom handle and, by the time we managed to get him off, he'd actually put a big dent in it.

They could easily snap a finger if you were foolish enough to place your hand within range."

Most creatures at the aquarium are freshwater and can be found in a 25-mile radius of the

aquarium, but these giant crabs were caught by a fisherman in Weymouth.

Cathy Burrow, group marketing manager, said that it is possible to find these crabs in Morecambe Bay, but probably not at this size.

"Since one of them dented the broom handle, they have been quite quiet and well behaved.

People are mesmerised by them," she added.

Marine experts at the aquarium estimate the crabs, which they have nicknamed Bobby and Buster, could be up to 15-years-old.

The only other crab they could find as wide as 22cms was a dead specimen at the French Natural History Museum, which was caught 150 years ago and measured 28.5cms.

This means that the highly-successful scavenging crabs may still have a little growing to do.