Police in the North have launched an investigation after a suspected mortar bomb was discovered close to a police station in north Belfast.

The device was found close to New Barnsley station this morning. Army bomb disposal experts are at the scene off Ballygomartin Road.

A number of houses were evacuated and two schools have been forced to close due to the continuing security alert.

Police said they believed the suspect item was a "mortar type device". It was reportedly found on waste ground near a primary school by a taxi driver at 7am.

The security alert also caused disruption to a funeral cortege.