POLICE firearms units were scrambled and a street in central Oxford cordoned off yesterday afternoon after a novelty lighter was mistaken for a real gun.

Officers swooped on South Parks Road near to the Oxford Museum of Natural History at around 4.15pm following reports of a firearm in the area.

The road was closed between Parks Road and Mansfield Road ‘as a precaution’ before police discovered the novelty lighter in the shape of a gun.

Read again:Man 'threatened with gun' on Banbury housing estate

Police have refused to say where exactly the lighter was discovered and no arrests have been made.

Oxford Mail:

A police spokesperson said this morning: “Thames Valley Police was called to South Parks Road in Oxford at around 4.15pm yesterday.

“A report was made that a firearm was present.

“As a precaution Parks Road and Mansfield Road were closed so enquiries could take place.

“No firearm was found and the investigation was closed.

“A novelty lighter, which was in the shape of a gun, was discovered.”