Hoax device wrapped in Pride flag in Portrush treated as hate crime by police

The object, which was wrapped in a Pride flag, was located after police received a call at around 7.30pm which stated that two devices had been left in the area.

Police said they will carry out a further search in the Hopefield Grove area this morning to ensure public safety.

"Anyone who comes across anything unusual or out of the ordinary in the area is advised not to touch it and to alert police immediately.

"Residents who were evacuated from their homes in Hopefield Avenue while the alert was ongoing have now returned and roads have reopened,” the Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesperson said.

Earlier police confirmed they were “treating this incident as a hate crime”, as they cordoned off Hopefield Avenue, Hopefield Crescent and Hopefield Grove on Thursday night.