Police have confiscated a World War Two mortar - from a car in central Dunedin

Dennis Hodge had the round in his car - and went to police to ask what to do with it.

Police cordoned off the Countdown supermarket - which shares the carpark with the police station.

Hodge says the practise round - filled with sand - belongs to a friend.

He says his friend was in the tank regiment and then the artillery during WWII - and and somehow brought it home.

Hodge says he hopes police will give it back once it's been officially declared safe.