'Unstable' bonfire sealed off

There were fears that the bonfire was unstable

Police cordoned off a bonfire in south Belfast for a time because of fears that it was unstable.

Part of the nearby Milltown Road, near the Belvoir Estate, was closed during the operation on Friday.

Local residents later blocked another road in protest at the police action.

They insisted the structure was secure and had been nailed down.

Jim McCallum of the Fire Service said there was a clear danger if bonfires were not properly supervised.

"Provided the bonfires are constructed and supervised properly, there should be minimal risk," he said.

"We are just appealing to people to exercise care and make sure the bonfires are correctly supervised."

Mr McCallum said the Fire Service wanted to minimise the risk of injuries at the bonfires.

Hundreds of bonfires are set to be lit across Northern Ireland this weekend.

They are built by the members of the Protestant community ahead of the Twelfth of July commemoration of William of Orange's victory over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.