A border town in Northern Ireland has been sealed off after a 600lb bomb was found in an abandoned van.

Police sealed off Clady near Strabane in County Tyrone Wednesday evening after a van was abandoned on a bridge in the town.

The van was dumped on the bridge with its hazard warning lights on.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland initially thought they were dealing with an abandoned vehicle.

However, they closed the roads into Clady after receiving a phone warning about the bomb.

Local politician Gerard Foley was one of the first on the scene.

“We stood and looked at it for about 10 or 15 minutes and we said, ‘There’s something not right here’,” he said.

“So we cordoned off the street and put cones across the road, and then we phoned the police.

“There is no support in this community for what is happening, [people] don’t want this in Clady at all.”

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said the whole situation was a disgrace.

"Obviously I would like to see this situation cleared up as quickly as possible.

"The residents don't know what's going on, and they're apprehensive.

"They need to be kept informed as to what's going to happen here.

"Whoever parked the van there or planted the device, if there is a device, really needs to catch themselves on.

"It's a disgrace," he said.