Suspect object is hoax

The area was cordoned off and homes evacuated

A security alert at the home of a nationalist councillor in Londonderry has been declared a hoax.

Police said a suspicious object had been found outside the home of the SDLP's Pat Ramsey at Meenan Drive in the Bogside area of the city.

It was tied to the front gate of Mr Ramsey's home.

An Army bomb disposal team investigated the incident.

Pat Ramsey: Alerted by neighbour

About 60 homes in the area were evacuated with 150 people moved out of their houses.

Mr Ramsey, a former mayor of Derry, said he was alerted by neighbours at about 0850 BST on Friday.

The SDLP said two weeks ago a suspect package was left at the home of Helen Quigley, another of the party's councillors in Derry.

SDLP leader and Foyle assembly member Mark Durkan condemned the latest incident and hit out at those who left the suspicious object.

Meanwhile, Army technical officers are examining a suspicious object in County Antrim.

It was found underneath a car in the Donaldson's Avenue area of Carrickfergus.