A WOMAN who was carrying a fake sword she used in battle re-enactments was questioned by police in a York street – after a concerned member of the public told officers she was concealing a weapon.

Police swooped in the Melrosegate area of the city yesterday at about 10.25am after a worried local resident phoned police, telling them he had spotted the young woman with the sword wrapped in a cloth.

The woman was questioned by officers – but the sword was revealed to be a fake – used for “re-enacting battles,” a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said.

He said the woman had the relevant paperwork, checked over by an officer, and was using the sword replica for work purposes.

The force spokesman said the police carried out the “necessary checks” before driving the woman to York University to prevent any further “cause for concern”.