Hoax object left at St Mary's Star of the Sea Church, Newtownabbey
A security alert at a Catholic Church in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, has ended.
It began after a suspicious object was found at St Mary's Star of the Sea Church on the Shore Road on Saturday afternoon.
Army technical officers carried out a controlled explosion on the object, which was later declared a hoax.
The Shore Road at Doagh Road and the M5 Shore Road roundabout have reopened.
Parish Priest Father Anthony Alexander said he was saddened by the disruption that had been caused.
"I'd say the six o'clock Mass is one of my biggest Masses and there would be a lot of elderly people who go to it," he said.