Police have found a can of dangerous goods that fell off the back of a truck.

A tin of dangerous goods lost in Wellington has been found by a member of the public.

The container was found on Evans Bay Parade at 5.30pm on Sunday, intact, and was returned to its owner.

The mystery substance, which police earlier warned "will make people very ill", was lost from a light truck travelling between Titahi Bay in Porirua and St Patrick's College in Kilbirnie between 8am and 11am on Sunday. On arrival, the driver noticed the tin was missing.

The dangerous substance was in a four-litre black paint can with a grey lid, and the word "Cynosol" on it.

Police were warning people not to tamper with any paint cans they might find on the side of the road.