THE world's most venomous fish has found a new home in the North-East - but it will be kept well protected.

The giant stonefish was treated with kid gloves when it arrived at Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium yesterday.

The stonefish, which is also known as the goblinfish and the warty-ghoul, is so poisonous staff underwent specialist first-aid training and have to wear protective clothing when they come into contact with it.

The foot-long fish is arriving from Holland in a reinforced container. In the wild, it lives on reefs or rocks in the Red Sea and off the Australian coast.

The poison is held in glands under 13 jagged spines running along the stonefish's back. The spines are so sharp they can pierce a shoe.

Aquarist Zahra d'Arronville said: "Most people think sharks are the oceans' deadliest killers, but the stonefish is responsible for far more fatalities each year."

The sting causes excruciating pain and a great deal of swelling rapidly develops, causing the affected tissue to die.

The symptoms of the venom are muscle weakness, temporary paralysis and shock - which may result in death if left untreated.

Anyone unfortunate enough to be stung is advised to elevate the affected limb and immerse it in hot water, or apply a dry heat, such as a cigarette, to the wound.

Ms d'Arronville said: "We regularly dive with our black tip reef sharks, but that's a walk in the park when you compare it to the potential danger of this one little fish.

"None of us are taking any chances. Whenever we do have to handle it we're going to be wearing plenty of protective clothing, and we'll also ensure that another member of staff is present - just in case something does go wrong."

Capable of surviving for up to 12 hours on land, the stonefish has killed people out walking on the beach yards away from the sea.