Homes evacuated after device found in north Belfast house

Thirty houses have been evacuated after police discovered a suspicious object during a search of a house in north Belfast.

It was found in the property in Jamaica Street in Ardoyne on Thursday afternoon.

Army bomb experts have arrived at the scene to examine the device.

Ardoyne Community Centre has been opened for those residents affected.

Sinn Fein councillor Gerry McCabe has been to the scene of the alert.

"The PSNI were carrying out what they described as a routine search of a house in Jamaica street area of Ardoyne where they subsequently discovered this suspect device," he said.

"They then put an operation in to evacuate homes in and around the area."

Mr McCabe said police had told him they were hoping the alert would not cause too much disruption.

"They were telling me they were hoping to clear it within a few hours," he said.

"It has caused massive disruption to the families who live in and around the house where the device was found.

"Thirty plus families have been evacuated from their homes.

"The Ardoyne Community Centre has been open but many people have chosen to go and stay with friends and family."

Motorists are being asked to avoid the area.