Lit flares have been thrown in a busy shopping strip during a "muck-up day" march by Melbourne students through the city’s inner east.



The students, mostly from notorious private Catholic school Xavier College, were being escorted by police on Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn towards the school in Barkers Road when the incident occurred just after 8am.



One of the flares fell to the gutter while the other went under a parked car, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.



No-one was injured but a caller to 3AW, known only as Carly, said the flares "terrified" her daughter, who was passing when they were lit.



Carly said there were more than 100 students mostly in Xavier College uniforms ‘‘whooping and cheering and carrying on’’ in the street.



The caller also reported seeing students from Methodist Ladies’ College but a school spokeswoman said their year 12 girls were not involved.



Leading Senior Constable Brett Phillips said police had been unable to identify who lit the flares but students involved could face charges if the culprits were identified.

He said when the group reached the school teachers had ejected one youth wearing a Xavier uniform who did not attend the college.

Flares are classed as dangerous goods and it is an offence to light one in situations other than distress.

Xavier College principal Chris Hayes said he attended this morning’s march, along with other staff members.