AN unexploded Second World War bomb has been destroyed in a controlled explosion in Co Down, two weeks after another WW2 device was found in the county.
The latest device, confirmed to have been a long-range WW2 mortar, was discovered in the Seafields area of Warrenpoint on Tuesday afternoon.
A number of nearby homes were evacuated as a security operation got underway shortly after 3.20pm.
A PSNI spokesperson said officers "appreciate this may cause some disruption, however keeping people safe is paramount and we will not take any risks".
Ammunition technical officers were called to the scene to identify the object before a controlled explosion was carried out.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at around 7pm.
The PSNI spokesperson said: “I want to thank the public for their cooperation, which allowed us to bring this security alert to a swift conclusion.”
The alert followed the discovery of another WW2 mortar in the Mournes area outside Newcastle on April 11.
The device, which was believed to have been buried in the ground for some time, was found by a member of the public in the Trassey Road area.
Following confirmation it was a viable device, a controlled explosion was carried out by ammunition technical officers.
Last March also saw a controlled explosion on a WW2 mortar found buried at Co Down's Murlough Bay, while two months later a grenade dating from the First World War, described as "capable of exploding" was found at a beach in Cultra, Co Down.
