Police have used a remotely controlled drone as part of an operation to defuse a small bomb in north Belfast.

Several houses in the republican Ardoyne district had to be evacuated after a viable device was discovered in Jamaica Street.

Neighbours claimed it was thrown at two men who were in the area at the time.

The unmanned aerial system bought by the police in the North earlier this year for security arrangements at the G8 conference of world leaders, which was held in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, and was used to help Army bomb disposal experts.

The drone used is a small aircraft with a maximum wingspan of 10 feet. It is operated by a member of the PSNI air support unit who has undertaken CAA approved training.

The device was the latest in a series found in various parts of Belfast in recent weeks.

A police statement said: “The use of an Unmanned Aerial System assisted in this clearance operation and minimised disruption to the local community by bringing the incident to a safe and satisfactory conclusion.”