Man charged with possessing explosives in Maghera

A number of homes were evacuated following the security alert on the Ranaghan Road

A man has been charged with possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances following a security alert near Maghera, County Londonderry.

The alert followed the discovery of a suspicious object on the Ranaghan Road on Tuesday, which caused a number of homes to be evacuated.

The man in his 50s has been charged with possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances, possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, cultivating cannabis, possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply, and possession of a Class B controlled drug.

He is due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates' Court on Saturday.