Harrow residents were given a scare after a post of an ‘escaped anaconda’ trended on social media.

The now-removed post was shared on the popular Facebook group, #FixIt Harrow, alerting residents of the possibility of an escaped anaconda.

It was claimed the snake had escaped from Garlands Lane, Harrow, off Peterborough Road and it was last seen in Harrow School Golf Club.

People were warned that it’s “very hungry” and to watch out for cats and small dogs in the area.

It was described as 10ft, called Tevez, and the poster claimed that this was made aware to local authorities and the RSPCA.

However both Harrow Council and the RSPCA say they are unaware of such reports of an anaconda on the loose in the streets of Harrow.

To shed more doubt, an image reverse search reveals that the picture posted was taken online from another website.

But the post itself was enough to give anyone in the Facebook group with 5.5k members a scare, and it had over 100 shares to other pages.

Many were concerned that the slithery snake posed a threat to people in Harrow, and the owner of FixIt – a now registered company – took action after having her own suspicions.

Caren Duhig, the owner, said: “After reading several DMs from concerned fixiters I decided to remove the post about the escaped snake.

“The poster had not provided me with a reference number from the RSPCA.

“So rather than instil fear into my membership, after we're slowly coming out of lockdown, I decided to remove the post.”

The Harrow Times has asked the poster for a reference number to validate their claims, but they failed to send one forward.

A RSPCA spokesperson said: “We have not received any reports of an escaped snake in the Harrow area, but if anyone spots it, we would urge them to keep a safe distance, call our helpline on 0300 1234 999 and monitor the animal until we can get there.

“Many of the snakes that the RSPCA’s officers are called to collect are thought to be escaped pets. The RSPCA would always recommend owners invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and that the enclosure is kept secure (and locked if necessary) when unattended to prevent accidental escape.

“For further information about caring for exotic pets, please visit the RSPCA’s website.”