Investigation after rambler finds box of military ammunition

The spot is near munitions depot RNAD Coulport on the banks of Loch Long. The cartridges were in a sealed dark green plastic bag with BAE Systems marked on it.

Inside were six cardboard boxes, each containing 20 unfired cartridges of the type used in training by the military.

The 57-year-old man who found the package said: "When I picked up the package initially I thought it was rations, because we know from previous experience that the MoD do manoeuvres in these woods and we had found empty shells and empty ammunitions boxes previously.

"But when I opened the bag there were the six cardboard boxes with ammunition in them. My son was with me and he was terrified. He wanted to leave them there and thought we would land in all sorts of trouble, but I thought if we leave them who knows whose hands they will end up in."

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: "It was reported to police that a package was found. Police will contact Faslane and police will dispose of the package."

A spokesman for HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, said the cartridges were blanks of the type used for training by the military for the SA80 rifle, and were about ten years old.

The area is used by all the forces for training. Military police are investigating.