POLICE are investigating reports of an explosion in west Belfast on Friday night.

The force of the blast has been heard across large parts of the city.

The source of the explosion has been pinpointed to the bottom of the Whiterock Road.

It is not known the cause of the explosion but it is being speculated that it was either a pipe bomb or blast bomb type device.

In the past, such devices have hurled at passing police patrols by dissident terrorists lurking in the shadows.