Image caption About 20 homes in the Felden Place area were evacuated according to DUP councillor Dean McCullough

A security alert has ended after a "viable device" in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, was made safe, the police have said.

Residents were moved from their homes near Felden Place after a suspicious object was found on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the device was made safe and taken away for examination. The residents have returned to their homes.

The "consequences of the attack could have been devastating", according to PSNI Insp Patty.

"We're grateful to local people for their patience.

"Families had to leave their homes, having their afternoon disrupted, while we worked to make the area safe.

"Most importantly, it's fortunate that no-one was physically injured."

About 20 homes in Felden Place, Felden Avenue and Felden Gardens were evacuated, according to DUP councillor Dean McCullough.

He said the nearby Valley Leisure Centre was made available for those who had leave their homes.

Mr McCullough described the planting of the device as "reprehensible".