POLICE have evacuated a number of homes and closed several roads in north Belfast due to a security alert on Monday night.

It follows the discovery of a suspicious object in the New Lodge district.

A youth club in Upper Meadow Street has been opened for evacuated residents to stay in while the alert is ongoing.

Army Technical Officers are at the scene examining the object.

The Antrim Road is closed from Carlisle Circus to Cliftonville Road.

Motorists are advised to take an alternative route while the alert continues.