Man arrested in connection with street festival bomb plot

Detectives hunting terrorists who abandoned a car bomb at one of Northern Ireland's biggest street festivals, charged a man in connection with the planned attack tonight.

Army explosives experts defused the primed incendiary device found at the Auld Lammas Fair in Ballycastle, Co Antrim last August.

Loyalists have been blamed for leaving the bomb in the seaside town where up to 100,000 people had gathered.

Police tonight confirmed they have charged a 30-year-old man from Coleraine, Co Derry with possession of explosives and placing an explosive device.

He is expected to appear before magistrates in the town tomorrow. It is understood the charges relate to the bomb uncovered in a white Ford Sierra car by a routine police patrol.

The device, comprising two gas cylinders, a detonator and a timer, was found by a routine police patrol as the second day of the fair was getting under way.