Austrian police have arrested a man described by local media as “Hitler’s double” for possible violations of laws against glorifying the Nazi era.

The 26-year-old was seen in Braunau on Monday (local time) sporting a Hitler moustache, with his hair combed in a similar style and dressed in Nazi-era regalia.

He told the media his name was Harald Zenz.

The Austrian government has decided against tearing down the house where Hitler lived. Photo: AAP

Police spokesman David Furtner said the suspect was detained after being seen repeatedly in front of the house where Hitler was born in 1889.

The house itself is the object of a legal squabble between its owner and the Government, which wants to take possession and remodel it to erase all associations with Hitler.

Mr Furtner said the man appeared to “glorify Hitler” and told the BBC that Zenz had only recently moved to the town.

Man arrested after parading around Hitler's home town dressed as the Nazi leader https://t.co/PUgnVBLyzM

— Standard News (@standardnews) February 14, 2017

Glorifying Hitler or the Nazis is a crime in Austria, which Nazi Germany annexed in 1938.

– with AP