Armed cops stormed a Salford street after someone said they had seen a gun.
It turned out it was someone putting a bird in a pet carrier case.
Huge numbers of police cars and armed units were scrambled to the property at Rattenbury Court Irlams o' th' Height, on Sunday evening.
Armed officers searched the house and a car parked outside.
People were seen being handcuffed, witnesses claimed. Greater Manchester Police has not confirmed whether anybody was detained.
Police discovered there were no firearms at the property.
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The resident had actually seen a man putting a bird in a pet carrier case, ahead of a visit to the vet.
A formal complaint has been made about the incident, which has been referred to Greater Manchester Police's Standards Branch.
The response to the incident will now be reviewed.
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A statement from GMP read: "Shortly after 9.20pm on Sunday, April 7, 2019, officers attended a property on Rattenbury Court, Salford, following a report of a man believed to be handling a firearm.
"Further enquiries revealed that the individual had been placing a bird into a pet carrier case in order to transfer the animal to a vet.
"A complaint regarding this investigation has been referred to GMP’s Professional Standards Branch."
No further information has been released about the incident.
