ARMED police were called to Southend town centre after a man was seen walking around with a suspected gun.
However, the 9.30am drama in Tylers Avenue turned out to be a false alarm after it was revealed that a man had simply found a child's toy in a bin.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police were called to reports of a man with what appeared to be a firearm on Tylers Avenue in Southend just before 9.30am today.
"The man was seen picking the item up from bins near the public toilets there and going into the toilet.
Armed police were called to the scene and the road was closed.
"It was later confirmed the item was a children’s toy gun and the armed officers were stood down and the road re-opened.
"No-one has been arrested."
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