Wiltshire Police searching the area yesterday (Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

A joker tried to prank his neighbours by hanging fake body parts out of a bin – but almost ended up in lots of trouble after police turned up.

Officers were called to the scene in Devizes, Wiltshire, by a member of the public at around 4.30pm yesterday.

When two officers arrived at the scene, they proceeded to search various bins and bin sheds in several gardens, until they were flagged down by a local resident.

The man claimed that the body parts are fake and that he was playing a prank on his neighbours.

He reached into the wheelie bin and retrieved the items. On inspection, the officers were able to confirm they were not real and closed their investigation.

The body parts were clearly fake but someone decided to call the police (Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

The practical joke almost ended in tears(Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

Officers quickly realised it was a joke gone wrong(Picture: Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

Speaking to Wiltshire 999s following the incident – which lasted all of ten minutes – he said: ‘I put them in our neighbour’s bin, sticking out.

‘They’re very good limbs, they do look lifelike.

‘I’ve put them in a bag so they can’t be seen now. It’s just a practical joke that’s got out of hand’.

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Police quickly realised it was a prank gone wrong.