Toy nuclear plant clears German streets

OELDE, Germany - A mini nuclear power plant built by two six-year-old German boys briefly caused panic in the streets of Oelde, Germany, Monday night.

The boys were playing with the mock power station and left it in the street when they went home for dinner, according to Reuters .

Police and fire officials were called after a passer-by saw the metal object with the yellow and black "radioactivity warning" nuclear symbol on it.

The streets were cleared and residents were told to stay indoors as firefighters tested it for a radioactive leak.

After the object had been identified, the boys' parents explained to police what had happened.

"It wasn't a prank, they were just playing," a local police spokeswoman said Tuesday. "The boys tried to go back later to carry on but the fire brigade wouldn't let them through."

Some toys are more realistic than others. Last year, Mark 1 Tanks unveiled a toy model of the German King Tiger tank with a fully functioning turret and a long gun that could be mistaken for the real thing.