clipped from news.lycos.co.uk

To their high society owners, a pair of haute couture shoes can be a precious thing.

A real-life Egyptian cobra guards a pair of ruby, sapphire and diamond sandals by designer Rene Caovilla at Harrods department store London. Harrods has hired an Egyptian cobra to guard a 62,000 pound pair of ruby- sapphire- and diamond-encrusted Rene Caovilla sandals at their launch.

Whether hiring a poisonous snake is, strictly speaking, the most effective means of guarding precious footwear might be a moot point with security experts.

But it makes for a pretty effective photo opportunity.

A spokeswoman for Harrods admitted that the cobra had been hired strictly for MondayÂ’s launch of the shoe collection.

The snake has now been returned to its owner, she said.

So no need to fear snake bites at the shoe counter, then.