A bomb has been found under the car of a former police officer in Belfast, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed.

The viable device was discovered in the Kingsway Park area near the Tullycarnet estate in east Belfast.

Army technical officers attended the scene and made the device safe.

The ex-policeman was with his 12-year-old daughter when he found the device under his car this morning.

Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process have been blamed for the incident.

The violent extremists have killed two policemen, two soldiers and a prison officer in the last five years.

In 2011, freshly qualified constable Ronan Kerr (25), was killed when a booby trap bomb detonated under his car outside his house in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

There have been a number of other failed car bomb attempts on security force members.

In recent weeks, four viable letter bombs have been posted to senior police officers, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers and an office of the Public Prosecution Service.

Press Association