Pipe bomb parts found near church

Parts of a pipe bomb have been discovered near a Catholic church in Co Antrim.

Parts of a pipe bomb have been discovered near a Catholic church in Co Antrim.

The alert disrupted mass at the Sacred Heart church in Ballyclare. Parish priest Fr Eugene O'Hagan, said the incident was disappointing.

"We had scheduled to have mass at half past nine this morning on the feast of St Brigid with our own primary school, that of course did not take place," he added.

"There is disruption for us but also it has caused huge disruption for the townsfolk here in Ballyclare."

A PSNI spokeswoman said the security alert in the Doagh Road area of Ballyclare was over.

"No controlled explosions were carried out however component parts of the viable pipe bomb type device have been removed for further forensic examination," she added.