Rock legend Bob Dylan was treated like a complete unknown by police in a US seaside town when a resident called to report someone wandering around the neighbourhood.

Dylan was in Long Branch, New Jersey, about a two-hour drive south of New York City, on 23 July as part of a tour with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. They were due to play at a baseball stadium.

A 24-year-old police officer apparently was unaware of who Dylan was and asked him for identification, Long Branch business administrator Howard Woolley said.

"I don't think she was familiar with his entire body of work," Woolley said.

The incident began when a resident said a man was wandering around a low-income, predominantly minority neighbourhood several blocks from the oceanfront looking at houses.

The police officer drove up to Dylan, who was wearing a blue jacket, and asked him his name. According to Woolley, the following exchange ensued:

"What is your name, sir?" the officer asked.

"Bob Dylan," Dylan said.

"Okay, what are you doing here?" the officer asked.

"I'm on tour," the singer replied.

A second officer, also in his 20s, responded to assist the first officer. He, too, apparently was unfamiliar with Dylan, Mr Woolley said.

The officers asked Dylan for identification. The singer of such classics as 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'Blowin' in the Wind' said that he didn't have any ID with him, that he was just walking around looking at houses to pass some time before that night's show.

The officers asked Dylan, (68) to accompany them back to the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, where the performers were staying.

Once there, tour staff vouched for Dylan.

The officers thanked him for his cooperation.

"He couldn't have been any nicer to them," Mr Woolley added.