Qld police hunt for missing mortar rounds

A metal container holding three mortar rounds is believed to have fallen off a truck on its way to a military training area near Townsville, police say.

The public are being warned to exercise caution and contact police if they come across the green container lost somewhere along Mingella Road or Harveys Range Road near the training area on Monday.

"Upon returning to the training area, a green box containing three 81mm illumination mortar rounds was discovered missing, and it is believed to have fallen off the vehicle around the Mingella Road area," police said in a statement.

The green box is approximately 36cm by 15cm by 75cm and has a clasped lid.

Anyone who finds the box is urged not to touch it but call triple zero immediately.