Cork homes evacuated after bomb alert

Dozens of homes in Cork were evacuated last night over a suspect device in Mayfield.

A bar manager finishing work at a bar known as "the Cow" on the Old Youghal Road noticed a suspect device under his car and alerted the authorities.

The Army Bomb Disposal team arrived on scene at 2.20am and examined the suspect device and found a container with powder, a fuse and some 70 nails.

A source said had it gone off, it would have caused major damage.

The area had been cordoned by the gardaí and some residents had to be evacuated from nearby homes.

The team rendered the device safe without the need for a controlled explosion and handed the device over to the gardaí.

The scene was declared safe at 4.30am.