Police in the North have confirmed that a serving prison officer has been injured in an explosion in East Belfast.

The PSNI says it received reports that a device exploded under a vehicle on Woodstock Road just after 7 o'clock this morning.

Police say the 52-year-old is currently being treated in hospital with what are believed to be serious leg injuries, but he is not thought to be in a life-threatening condition.

It is understood the man was driving a van when the device exploded.

A number of houses in Hillsborough Drive are currently being evacuated and an emergency evacuation centre has been opened up at the Salvation Army on the Cregagh Road.

These people in the local area are devastated at this morning's events: