The former UDA prisoner and his wife Roberta are staying with friends after he was warned that renegade loyalists in south east Antrim were " actively" targeting him.

It has also emerged that senior north Belfast UDA man John Bunting has left his Ballyclare home over fears for his safety. He was last night unavailable to comment.

Also last night, there were reports that shots were fired in the Castlemara Drive area of Carrickfergus and that the son of exiled loyalist Alan McClean was arrested.

The threats against Duddy and Bunting were made after they joined members of the UDA's ruling 'inner council' last Friday to take a public stand against criminality in the south east Antrim area.

Duddy, who has been targeted in previous loyalist feuds, last night vowed to return to his home and continue his work with the Ulster Political Research Group.

He said: "I will never bow down to these thugs and I firmly believe this is a reaction to what was said by the UDA's inner council on Friday. These people cannot win and they know I will be back in my home."