A man who went out to pick mushrooms over the weekend was surprised by the discovery of a hand grenade.

According to reports, he man went mushroom picking at around 11am on Saturday morning in ​​Kyperounda, Limassol district, when he found the grenade.

The forager immediately rang the authorities who rushed to the scene.

According to police, the explosive was a defensive M-26 grenade, which did not have a cocking lever and was in an advanced stage of oxidation. According to indications, it is likely that it had been at the site for many years.

Pyrotechnicians sent to the scene removed the object for destruction.

Meanwhile, another mushroom picker from Galata, disappeared on Friday also in the area of ​​Kyperounda.

The 71-year-old man had been reported missing by his daughter who told police that he had left around 2pm to go mushroom picking with his housekeeper.

The latter returned at 5pm to the car without the 71-year-old and notified his family, when authorities mobilised a search. Members of the police, civil defence and volunteers combed the area to find him.

Soldiers located the man at around 11.30pm in a hard-to-access area near an army camp bearing some bruises.