POSTERS stating that a deadly poisonous snake was on the loose in a village, have proved to be a hoax.

Residents in Little Kingshill were alarmed when a number of posters were put up in the village informing them that a king cobra snake had escaped and was on the loose.

A telephone number was put on the posters for people to contact but concerned villagers who rang the number were simply met with an engaged tone every time.

The king cobra is the largest of all venomous snakes, growing up to more than five metres long.

It also delivers more venom than almost any other snake and can kill a human in 15 minutes.

An anonymous Little Kingshill resident, worried about who might be keeping a snake, said she was concerned about the possibility of a snake on the loose.

She said: "I'm very worried. The posters just say not to touch it."

But police investigating the missing snake said the warning was a fake.

Thames Valley spokesman Kate Spark said: "Police have discovered it to be a hoax.

"The telephone number was traced to an address in Prestwood and we're satisfied that the people at that address in Prestwood have nothing to do with the hoax."

But police are still in the dark as to who perpetrated the slithery scare and are investigating.