Security alert at Millisle caravan park ends

Access in or out of Seaview Caravan Park on the Ards Peninsula was restricted during the alert

A security alert at a caravan site in the seaside town of Millisle, County Down, has ended.

Police received a report of a suspicious device left in a field near the site on Friday night.

A number of homes were evacuated and access in or out of Seaview Caravan Park on the Ards Peninsula was restricted.

Police said on Saturday afternoon that a "thorough search of the area" had been carried out and "nothing untoward" was found.

'Considerable inconvenience'

Candice, Shelley and their children were "freezing and soaked" on Friday

"We would like to thank the public for their patience and co-operation as searches in the area were carried out overnight and into this morning," Insp Nigel Donnelly said.

"We appreciate this has caused considerable inconvenience but, ultimately, public safety is our priority."

On Friday night, two women standing at the entrance of the holiday park told BBC News NI they arrived about 18:00 BST to stay in a relative's caravan and were told by police they could not go in.

Candice Bunting and Shelley Ritchie, along with two eight-year-olds and a nine-year-old, said they were "freezing and soaked" as a result of not being able to access the caravan.

They said their belongings had been left at the caravan by a relative earlier so they "literally have the clothes we stand in".

"The kids are tired and hungry," they said.

They were offered refreshments and somewhere to shelter from the rain by local resident Gary Mann, who lives opposite the site.

“I feel sorry for the people arriving here on holidays. It’s not something that usually happens here. It’s not nice to see, especially with the kids being on holiday,” he said.