hotel room after a guest had checked out.

Cleaners found the box of bullets after a visitor, Ms Michelle Cornell, had vacated the room at the Southampton Princess on Thursday.

The discovery of the nine millimetre bullets was immediately reported to Police who have started an investigation into how they got into Bermuda.

Under Bermudian law it is illegal to bring guns or bullets into the Country and most airlines ban them from aeroplanes.

However, some American and Canadian airlines allow a law enforcement agent to carry weapons and ammunition if they produce the right identification.

They still have to be declared to the Island's customs and excise and the weapons should be confiscated.

Yesterday, Princess Hotels regional vice president Mr. Steven Barker said the box of bullets was found by hotel cleaners.

"We immediately contacted the Police who are investigating the matter,'' said Mr. Barker. He did not know how long Ms Cornell had been staying in the room.

Police spokesman, Sergeant Chris Wilcox, said hotel staff reported finding 14, nine millimetre bullets in the guest's room, after she had checked out.

He said one possible line of inquiry was that Ms Cornell was an American Police or Government officer.

"Some US carriers will allow law enforcement or Government agents to carry weapons on board a plane if they can prove who they are and that the weapon will be kept in a safe place,'' said Sgt. Wilcox.

"However, it is still illegal to bring them into Bermuda, even for a law enforcement officer, and the matter will be investigated,'' he added.

Meanwhile, the Police are also investigating the discovery of a 1.22 millimetre bullet, thought to be live, at the Bermuda High School for Girls.

The bullet was found on Thursday in a shed, being demolished. It is not known how long the bullet had been there.