A small town in France near Toulouse has been gripped by fears of a deadly snake spotted in the area.
The fire brigade and police in Castelginest have been searching for the cobra since Tuesday when it was seen.
Public facilities and parks remain closed, and many residents are concerned.
"For safety reasons and due to the confirmed presence of a venomous cobra in the town, we ask you to exercise the utmost caution when out and about," the town council warned.
"Avoid tall grass - this also applies to your children and pets."
The snake was spotted by a resident of the town, who took a photograph of it.
The mayor then called in an expert to identify it.
The fire brigade deployed a drone and combed through domestic gardens in their hunt for the creature.
"Rest assured that we are doing everything possible to ensure your safety," the town council stated.
"They've looked everywhere, lifted all the bins and lids," a resident told the broadcaster Europe 1.
"The dogs are staying inside, the cat too and the children as well. There's a cherry tree right outside my son's bedroom," said a neighbour.
"I check under the beds every evening before my children go to sleep."
Dorian Blayac, the reptile expert commissioned by the prefecture in Toulouse, told Europe 1 that cobra bites can be fatal, and that the nearest hospital has been informed.
"They are prepared to admit anyone who may have been bitten by this species," he said.
It is still unclear whether the snake is an escaped pet or whether it came to be in the wild some other way.
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