Warnings issued to the public over potential dangers.

Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a warning to members of the public after a taser cartridge was mislaid by a patrol officer in East Devon.

The cartridge was mislaid by during a patrol on Tuesday night.

The police spokesman said: “There has been no previous reported incidents in the force area of a taser cartridge being discharged without being attached to the taser unit which supplies the electrical charge.

“The cartridge contains probes on wires which extend when the device is discharged. The probes could be inadvertently discharged by a build-up of static if picked up or handled.

“Although the potential danger to the public is very low police advise that if found the cartridge should not be tampered with and handed in to the police.”

The cartridge is described as being black in colour measuring 2”x 1 �” with a serial number C31017NX4.

Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101 or hand it in to their nearest police station.