POLICE are hunting a man who was filmed walking round Birkenhead with what appeared to be a machete.

Emergency services were called just after 4.15pm yesterday (Thursday, January 3) following reports that a man had been carrying an item which looked like a long-bladed knife on Laird Street.

Officers are now keen to speak to the man, who is believed to be in his late 40s and was wearing a red hoodie and beanie hat.

The item was later discovered hidden in a tree and was identified as a chrome coloured shelving bracket.

A video of the bizarre incident was posted on Facebook with the comment, 'just walking round with a machete in Birkenhead as you do #birkenheadrambo', and has since been viewed 59,000 times.

Sergeant Alan McKeon said: “Carrying any type of weapon or something that resembles one causes fear in our communities and puts us all at risk, even if it is not intended to be used.

“Officers have carried out CCTV and house to house enquiries and are continuing to trace the person responsible.

"If you have any information that could help us, please get in touch quoting: 19100003561.”