Some leading Northern Ireland politicians are being warned by police that dissident republicans are planning a fresh wave of assassinations and bombings.

Acting Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn told the Policing Board on Wednesday that a number of politicians had received the warning in the past 24 hours.

Among those given the warning are the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble along with several of his Westminster MPs, and the leader of the Democratic Unionists, Ian Paisley.

Mr Cramphorn said at the board meeting that police resources were being diverted to deal with the threat from republican dissidents.

Colin Cramphorn: Told police board of warnings

"There are a number of serious threats that have emerged in recent weeks from dissident republican groups," he said.

Mr Cramphorn also blamed dissident republicans for a bomb attack on a new Catholic recruit to the police service in County Antrim last month.

Asked about threats to other recruits, he said: "There have been other threats we are aware of to trainees joining the police service.

"We don't discuss these publicly either to identify individuals or the nature of the threats."

It is clear there is a high level of activity at the moment by republicans - they are determined to undermine the democratic process in Northern Ireland

Jeffrey Donaldson Ulster Unionist MP

Democratic Unionist board member Ian Paisley Junior said he believed the Provisional IRA was linked to the threat against unionist politicians.

"The term dissident is a very convenient one for the government and police to use because it covers a multitude of sins," he said.

"The reality is that the IRA hasn't gone away."

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he was aware of new threats to some of his fellow Ulster Unionists.

"It is clear there is a high level of activity at the moment by republicans. They are determined to undermine the democratic process in Northern Ireland. They must not be allowed to succeed," he said.

Jeffrey Donaldson: "Aware of new threats"

BBC Northern Ireland's chief security correspondent Brian Rowan said: "I spoke to Ian Paisley Junior and he said both he and his father had been warned.

"He also said other senior unionist politicians had been warned."

Last week, Mr Cramphorn said sectarian violence had to be rejected if "unprecedented levels" of crime were to be reduced.

Delivering the PSNI's first report, he said the demands of dealing with street violence, particularly in north Belfast had resulted in an increase in ordinary crime.

The report, which was the first since the PSNI replaced the RUC last November, showed 17 people had died in the province as a result of continuing civil disorder during the year to the end of March.

The threat from both republican and loyalist groupings remained "very real" and continued to place "considerable demands on the police to protect the community", said Mr Cramphorn.