A £5bn mining project in Western Australia has been blocked by government officials after the discovery of tiny, blind spider-like creatures at the site.

Plans by Robe River, a subsidiary of the mining giant Rio Tinto, to develop the iron ore mine near Pannawonica, in the north-western region of Pilbara, were rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority after the company unearthed at least five new species of the cave-dwelling creatures.