ARMED police were called to York city centre on Tuesday night when actors on a horror tour were mistaken for gun toting criminals.

Police were told that a man was wandering the Petergate and Stonegate area with a gun.

However, those involved were actually actors working for the York Terror Trail.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "A member of the public raised concerns with police on Tuesday evening about a man seen carrying a weapon on Petergate, York.

"Officers attended, quickly established that they were actors in a play, and they were given words of advice."

The actors are believed to have been carrying unloaded BB guns.

Ghost walk leader Trevor Rooney wrote on Facebook that he spoke with the actors.

He said he told the police: "I don't agree with this type of item being used to entertain the public, especially when families with children would be present."

He added: "I am a performer and have done the streets for years, I know of many performers worldwide who have used plastic guns as part of a comedy act and have been banned from working the streets due to the use of them. So why is York letting this happen?"

A spokesperson for York Terror Trail said they had previously alerted police to the use of the props and had been given the go-ahead.