A MAN has been arrested in Melbourne's southeast after walking down the street with an imitation gun this morning.

A member of the public called police at 10.40am after seeing two men walking in Mansfield St, Berwick, with what the caller believed was an AK47 rifle.

Police swooped on the pair, but found one of the men was carrying a Nerf gun, which shoots foam balls.

He was taken into custody.

The other man fled.

Victoria Police media officer Maddie Featherby said police had since determined the gun was a fake.

"It is illegal to have an imitation firearm on the street," she said.

No charges have yet been laid.

Read more at Berwick Leader

Originally published as Man arrested after fake gun scare