Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 26th May 2015 - Short Strand Alert Pictured is a general view of the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 26th May 2015 - Short Strand Alert Pictured is a general view of the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 26th May 2015 - Short Strand Alert Pictured is a general view of the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

A secondary device in the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house last night and a fresh one discovered. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

A secondary device in the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house last night and a fresh one discovered. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

A secondary device in the Strand Walk area of East Belfast where a device was thrown into the back garden of a house last night and a fresh one discovered. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

A second suspected bomb has been found in Short Strand, east Belfast.

The Lower Newtownards Road was closed at its junction with Bridgend due to the security alert in Strand Walk Diversions.

It comes after a small explosive device was thrown into the back garden of a house in Strand Walk on Monday night.

Police and army bomb disposal experts attended the scene at about 10.40pm and a number of homes were evacuated.

The object had failed to explode. It was made safe and taken for forensic tests to be carried out. The scene was closed at around 3am with residents allowed back to their homes.

Following the two alerts Superintendent Bobby Singleton is encouraging residents there to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to police.

"Two viable devices have been dealt with in Strand Walk in less than 24 hours and, while there is currently no suggestion that there may be further devices, as a precaution I am asking residents to report any items they feel are unusual, suspicious or out of place.

"We will be in and around the Strand this evening as we work with the community to keep them safe. We appreciate the patience and co-operation shown by residents and we are taking every sensible step to minimise any further impact on them."

Belfast Telegraph