THE security alert at Lepper Street in North Belfast has now ended.

A suspicious object was examined and has been declared as a “crude but viable pipe bomb type device”, say police.

The device has been taken away for forensic examination.

All roads in the area have reopened.

Inspector McCullough has appealed for anyone with any information about this incident to contact detectives at Musgrave on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.