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A security alert sparked after an object was thrown at a house causing a small fire in Holywood in County Down has ended.

The incident in Firmount Crescent was reported shortly after midnight on Wednesday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

The fire was extinguished with no reports of any injuries or damage.

Three people were seen leaving the area on foot along Old Holywood Road after the incident.

The road was closed between its junctions with Clarehill Lane and Knocknagoney Road but has since reopened.

Police later found the object to be an aerosol can that was set alight.

A number of items have been taken away for further examination, police added.

'Alarming'

Democratic Unionist Party assembly member for North Down Stephen Dunne said the "alarming" incident had shocked the community.

"There is no place for this type of activity and I would appeal to anyone with any information to contact the PSNI immediately," he said.

"This incident could have resulted in very serious injuries and a real threat to life and we can be thankful that no injuries have been reported at this stage."

Alliance assembly member for North Down Andrew Muir said the attack was "reckless".

"What we've seen here is incredibly unnerving - the actions of those responsible are reprehensible and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he said.

"There is simply no place for this kind of reckless, disruptive behaviour in our community, which achieves nothing other than striking fear into local residents."