Festival disrupted by hoax alert

Police closed off Hillsborough during the security alert

A hoax security alert in a County Down village has caused disruption to its annual fund-raising oyster festival.

Two devices were found in Hillsborough and Army technical officers carried out controlled explosions before declaring them "elaborate hoaxes".

Police were warned that a number of devices had been left in the village just after 1330 BST on Saturday.

Organiser Sean Hall said the alert had caused disruption to the event which raises funds for cystic fibrosis.

"The whole event is run for Cystic Fibrosis Trust and everything we make goes to them so they have suffered a significant loss of income today," he said.

"Hopefully, the streets will be given the all clear shortly and we will be able to get back and start enjoying ourselves again."

Dissident republicans are being blamed for the hoax bomb alert.