A POLICE armed response unit was called into action at the weekend after two men were seen with what appeared to be machine guns -only to discover it was a prank being filmed for YouTube.

Three hours after the alert, police took possession of two cheap plastic toy guns that rattle when the triggers are pulled.

Two 26-year-old men, who later handed themselves in, were given advice, but no further police action was taken.

Chief Superintendent Eric Suddes said: "Thankfully there was no harm done on this occasion, but I have to say their actions were ill-conceived in the present climate.

"There could have been serious consequences because an armed police response was necessary based on the information we had.

"Even plastic or toy weapons can look like the real thing, and people should be aware of what may happen if they use them in public."

A police spokesman said the two 26-year-olds, who regularly film shorts for video sharing website YouTube, were on private land near Middleheads Farm, Consett, at about 5pm on Friday.

He said: "Reports came from a member of the public that men had been seen near the Derwent Walk waving what appeared to be a machine gun around and they were filming each other.

"This led to a swift police response, because based on the information, there was no choice but to called for an armed response."

The men were gone by the time police arrived, but witnesses had taken the registration of their car, which was traced to an address nearby.

The spokesman said the car's owner was not in, but officers were satisfied that it was not a real gun.

When the man handed himself in at Durham police station on Saturday morning, he was arrested, but released. His friend also went in. Both were advised of the foolishness of their actions. The spokesman said: "They were on private land and thought they were away from public view and also thought the props they were using would not be mistaken for the real thing.

"But, of course, that is not an assumption that is always correct, and it shows the risk involved."

The men have decided not to put the video on YouTube.