A 300lb car bomb has been discovered close to a primary school, police said tonight.

The viable home made device was placed in the back of a black Volkswagen Bora in the Co Down village of Castlewellan, in Northern Ireland.

Police and army disposal experts have been carrying out tests on the vehicle since Tuesday when a telephone bomb warning was received.

The callers claimed the bomb was originally intended for the nearby British army base at Ballykinler but that it had been abandoned.

Tonight the Police Service of Northern Ireland revealed the potential deadly cargo that had been found. The device has now been made safe.

The suspect car was parked on the village's Dublin Road close to the Burrenreagh Road junction.

PSNI Superintendent Greg Blain said that the bomb had been left near a primary school and was on a road used regularly by pupils, parents and teachers.

"The people who carried this out showed a callous disregard for the lives of everyone in our community," he said.

"They planted a large viable device in a car, abandoned it in an area close to local houses and schools, and then phoned through vague warnings about the locality and nature of the threat.

"They placed the lives of every man, woman and child in the area at risk and simply have nothing to offer society.

"Unfortunately, due to the nature and complexities of these types of thorough operations it can take some time to clear an area as it is essential we ensure the safety of the whole community, including my officers.

"However, I would like to thank local residents and members of the public for their patience and co-operation throughout the last few days.

"The blame for the inconvenience caused lies squarely with those who claimed to have carried out the attack in the first place.

"Those who operate under various flags of convenience are simply terrorists and criminals who wish to drag everyone back to the dark days of the past by using violence as a so-called political tool.

"I would call on all in our community who want to see a happier and more peaceful present and future to give us the information to detect and bring these criminals to justice.

"In particular we would like to hear from anyone who observed a black VW Bora in the area of the Dublin Road and Burrenreagh Road, Castlewellan on the morning of Tuesday 27th January or has any information about its movements prior to that date."

Anyone who has any information that could assist police with their enquiries is urged to call detectives in PSNI Serious Crime Branch on 028 90 561880. Information can also be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111