Drama in Cork city.

Several houses off the Old Youghal Road in the Mayfield area of the city had to be evacuated on Tuesday evening after the discovery of a suspicious device.

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Irish Defence Forces were called to the scene shortly after 8pm yesterday and the residential area was cordoned off by Gardaí as an investigation was carried out.

According to a report in the Irish Examiner, the device determined not to be viable and the area was declared safe once again.

However, it is believed that several items of interested were handed over to Gardaí over the course of the operation for investigation.