Three children in Lurgan, County Armagh suffered injuries after a bomb attack by dissident IRA members went wrong.

Police said a device exploded close to a school in Lurgan County Armagh, about 22 miles from Belfast, injuring two 12-year-old children and a two-year old. All three were injured by flying debris, none seriously

Police were evacuating houses in the area after reports of a bomb.

Local politician Dolores Kelly, of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said the blast was a despicable act.

"This was a despicable attempt to draw police in and then set off a bomb precisely where they would have been trying to keep other people back out of danger, and that is why the children were injured by debris from the explosion," Kelly said.

"People are absolutely furious and no wonder. We need more firm political leadership and better intelligence methods to cope with this threat," Kelly said.