The Army Bomb Disposal Team says a device found outside a house near Longford town earlier was a viable explosive.

A member of the public found the bomb outside a home beside the N4 in the Shroid area this afternoon and called emergency services.

Gardaí and Defence Forces were called in and the device was moved to a safe military location for examination.

The army says it has now confirmed it was a viable improvised explosive device. 

The device has now been rendered safe.

Evidence from the scene and the object itself have been given over to investigating gardaí this evening.