A police cordon erected at Tates Avenue on Friday morning during the security alert

A security alert is underway in west Belfast on Friday afternoon – the third in as many hours.

Police were called to the Meadowhill Grange area following the discovery of a suspicious object.

The PSNI said: “The public are advised to avoid this area if possible.”

Earlier, Army bomb squad officers carried out a controlled explosion in south Belfast.

It followed the discovery of a suspicious object in the Tates Avenue area.

Police said the device was taken away “for further examination to determine its nature”.

The area has been reopened to traffic.

Meanwhile a security alert on the Shore Road at Greenisland in Co Antrim has ended after nothing suspicious was found.

The area has been reopened to traffic.