A stowaway scorpion has been captured by staff at a hotel which is set to host part of this year’s Conservative Party conference.

The European yellow-tailed scorpion, said to be mildly venomous with a sting akin to that of a bee, was found at Birmingham’s Hyatt Regency on September 13 after apparently emerging from a guest’s luggage.

RSPCA inspectors said staff on the third floor of the hotel carefully put a glass over the creature, placed card underneath and then called them for help.

Vic Hurr, an animal collection officer for the charity, was sent to the hotel, where staff had named the creature Pepe, and was able to put it in a box so she could safely transport it to a rescue centre.

She said: “The scorpion was only small but he was a feisty little thing.

“We think he must have come out of some luggage and probably travelled thousands of miles so he certainly had an adventure.”

The scorpion was taken to a specialist reptile rehabilitation centre by the RSPCA and he will eventually be re-homed with a specialist keeper.

A number of events at the Tory party conference, which starts on Sunday, are being held in suites at the Hyatt Regency, including a discussion about Brexit and nature being led by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.