Ananova:

A soldier's weapon has been missing for two days after it was left in a supermarket toilet during a military exercise.

An army captain put her waistband holster on top of the cistern in a disabled loo during an exercise on and then left it behind, the Sun reports.

The captain, reportedly based at barracks in Chicksands, Bedfordshire, soon realised her blunder and rushed back to the Sainsbury's store in Hitchin.

But the US-made Sig Sauer 9mm automatic had gone, along with 13 blanks also in the holster.

Hertfordshire police said that the loaded pistol had still not been found and could cause serious injury.

"So far the weapon has not been located and officers are currently conducting searches in the nearby area.

"The weapon was loaded with 13 rounds of blank ammunition but if inappropriately used could cause serious injury," they said.

The Ministry of Defence refused to confirm any details but admitted the weapon had been lost.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that a soldier on an authorised military exercise lost a weapon in the Hitchin area and local police are looking into the issue."