A box containing 250 individually tubed ants was discovered after being left unopened for eight months.

Amazingly, some of the ants were still alive and have now found a new home after being rescued.

The mysterious box was opened earlier this month by a company in Folkestone which buys unclaimed boxes from delivery companies.

But staff got a surprise when they found around 250 ants, all placed individually in small clear tubes.

Concerned for the insects' health, they immediately contacted the RSPCA Folkestone branch and its welfare officer Lucy Smith visited.

Ms Smith said: "It was a very confusing one for me.

"The company in Folkestone buys unclaimed packages and it can take them a few months to open them.

"We noticed that the posting label said January.

"There was a little bit of tissue in each tube, probably soaked with something, which I think had been sustaining the ants.

"We didn't know what species they were, whether they were from this country or somewhere else.

"I called so many people to try and find help for the ants, we wanted to give them a chance."

Ms Smith made several calls to insect experts and eventually found a man from Thanet via the British Vet Association's website.

Watch: Many of the ants were still alive

Ms Smith said he was 'on his way within an hour' of them speaking to come and see the ants.

She said: "Apparently it is quite common to send ants in the post as people set up ant farms."

Arrangements have now been made for the surviving ants to be looked after by a keeper from Longleat Safari Park.

Ant colonies can be long-lived. The queens can live for up to 30 years, and workers live from one to three years.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

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