UK armed police who were scrambled to reports of a man carrying a rifle discovered it was actually a lightsaber.

Devon and Cornwall Police received a call just before midday on Wednesday after the man was spotted near Drake Circus in Plymouth.

It was believed the man was carrying an air rifle bag and was in possession of a rifle near the busy shopping centre.

A local armed response vehicle unit was sent to the scene and officers made contact with the man on Lockyer Street.

They then established the man was actually carrying the Star Wars prop.

The force later tweeted: "#Police job of the day, ARV sent to male with rifle in a bag in Plymouth, only a light sabre after all. May the Force be with you!"

A spokeswoman for the force confirmed that no arrests had been made.

"We received a call from just before midday following reports of a man in his 50s carrying what was thought to be an air rifle bag and possibly in possession of a rifle near Drake Circus in Plymouth," she said.

"A local ARV unit was sent and officers made contact on Lockyer Street, thankfully the member of public was carrying a Light Saber inside the bag."
Lightsabers are the signature weapons of the Jedi and their Sith counterparts in the Star Wars films.

They are commonly used for defence and combat and are depicted as being able to cut through virtually anything.