A number of homes have been evacuated as a result of a security alert in Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim.

Police were attacked for a third night, with frontline officers reportedly coming under gunfire as fresh loyalist violence erupted in the North over the flying of the Union Flag.

Eighteen people have been arrested after nine police officers were injured during the latest outburst of loyalist violence in the North.

A bus and a car have been burnt out during disturbances in a Loyalist area near Belfast.