Co Derry bomb alert declared an elaborate hoax

A bomb alert that brought the Co Derry village of Clady to a standstill yesterday has been declared an elaborate hoax.

The village was cordoned off on Wednesday night after a van was abandoned on a bridge with its hazard lights flashing.

The police received a phonecall claiming there was a 600lb bomb in the vehicle.

British Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion last night before declaring the incident a hoax.

Two men aged 34 and 38 are being questioned by the police in connection with the alert, which is believed to be the work of dissident republicans.