A bomb that exploded outside a busy restaurant in Belfast city centre following a misleading telephone warning could have killed or maimed festive revellers, a police commander has said.

Loyalist flag protests which are damaging Belfast’s economy on the busiest day of the week should be moved to Saturday mornings, city centre traders have said.

The British government tonight kicked into touch all hopes of the North’s new national sports stadium being moved to Belfast.

A controversial proposed retail and leisure development on the outskirts of Belfast was given formal planning permission today.