Armed police descended on a coffee shop in Chelmsford after receiving reports of a man carrying a gun.
Shocked residents called officers after the man was seen with what appeared to be an assault rifle, rifle and two other guns.
Officers from Essex Police's Firearms Support Unit swooped to the scene - but quickly established the guns were fake.
The man was actually on his way to Comic Con in London and was in fancy dress for the fiction fan convention.
Officers were stepped down and the man was given advice about carrying imitation weapons in public.
@EssexPoliceFSU deployed to an incident in #Chelmsford today, with @EPDogSection. A male attending a #Comiccon event in London was found in possession of a number of imitation weapons. Suitable advice has been given as to how they should be carried to not cause unnecessary alarm. pic.twitter.com/ygisHuGda6
— Essex Police FSU (@EssexPoliceFSU) October 26, 2018
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