80 recovered guns 'linked to UVF'

More than 80 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been found by police in a loyalist area of Belfast.

Police officers went to the Ballysillan area of north Belfast to investigate the death of a man at the weekend. It is believed he took his own life.

In follow-up searches of his house, police said they found more than 70 suspected guns.

More guns were seized from a nearby lock-up premises. The guns are thought to be linked to the UVF.

All the weapons have been removed for examination and police inquiries.

The UVF announced last year that it was putting its weapons beyond reach.

BBC Northern Ireland security correspondent Vincent Kearney said UVF sources could not confirm the weapons belonged to the organisation.

Billy Hutchinson, a member of the PUP who has represented the UVF at meetings with the international decommissioning body, said he hoped to make a full statement later.

Senior UDA sources have said the weapons do not belong to them.