Armagh alert was 'elaborate hoax'

Army bomb disposal teams are at the scene

A bomb alert in the centre of Armagh was "an elaborate hoax", the police have said.

A suspicious object was found in the Mall area at about 0330 GMT on Monday.

The area around Mall East, Mall West, College Hill and the courthouse were cordoned off but has now been reopened.

Local DUP councillor William Irwin condemned those responsible for leaving the hoax device, which he said had caused widespread disruption to schools and businesses.