FURTHER searches of a forest in Co Louth have uncovered ammunition and explosives, as part of a crackdown by gardaí on cross-border dissident republican activity.

In early February searches were carried out by gardaí and the Irish army at remote woodland on the Cooley peninsula.

At that time around 1,000 rounds of ammunition and a mortar tube were found in two hides about 6km from Omeath.

The assorted ammunition was for use in small arms and semi-automatic rifles and was concealed in lunch boxes placed inside a plastic barrel, which had been buried in the ground.

An empty mortar tube was found in a separate hide nearby.

During follow-up searches carried out this week further ammunition and explosives were discovered.

The operation again involved gardaí from the Louth Garda Division, Special Detective Unit and from Special Tactics and Operations Command.

A quantity of explosives, two firearms and a sizeable quantity of ammunition of various calibres was recovered.

A unit of the Irish Defence Forces visited the site and destroyed some of the material by controlled explosion.

A spokesperson said the investigation was "ongoing and for operational reasons there will be no further comment".

There have been no arrests to date in connection with the find.