DOZENS of families were forced out of their homes during a hoax bomb alert in Derry.
A suspicious object was discovered in the Balbane Pass area of the city on Saturday morning and police arrived on the scene shortly after 10am to clear the area.
Balbane Pass and Rinmore Drive were closed to traffic and dozens of families had to be evacuated from their homes for almost six hours.
Army Technical Officers examined the suspicious object and later declared it to be an elaborate hoax.
The security alert ended shortly after 3pm and residents were allowed to return to their homes.
SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan condemned the incident and the effect it had on residents in the area.
"Following the discovery of a suspect device early this morning, families in the Balbane pass area have been forced from their homes into some of the coldest weather we’ve seen this year," he said.
"Parents were forced to take their young children into the freezing snow by those with no consideration or care for this community.
"Those behind this alert have caused serious disruption at a busy time of year for these families and should be ashamed of their actions," he said.
