Police are appealing for information after a hoax bomb was left outside the house of an SDLP councillor in Co Londonderry early this morning.

Councillor Billy Leonard's Portstewart home was initially attacked when a bottle of paint was thrown through an upstairs window.

Another bottle was then hurled against an outside wall, striking a balcony.

When Mr Leonard went to investigate he found a black bag containing a tin box had been left outside his front door.

Although a battery, timer and pipe were found inside the container, the device was declared a hoax by Army experts.

Ulster Unionist East Londonderry representative, and council colleague of Mr Leonard, David McClarty condemned the attack.

He said: “It was an attack on democracy and in a democracy people have the right to speak. Personally I don’t agree with a lot of what Alderman Leonard says but I respect his right to state what he believes in.”

Mr McClarty said he was relieved that no one was injured in the attack.

Police said a sectarian motive had not been ruled out.

(MB)