The Army Bomb Disposal Team has “rendered safe” a viable explosive device in Athy, County Kildare.

The team was called to the scene early this afternoon after a suspect device was discovered by a member of the public.

A cordon was established in the surrounding area and a number of residents were evacuated as a safety precaution.

It took the army team around an hour to defuse the device, which has been moved to a “secure military location.”

Evidence from the scene will now be used to assist gardaí in their ongoing investigations.