Army bomb experts attended the scene

A letter bomb-type device was opened by Strabane District Policing Partnership Chairman Tom McBride after he returned to his home near Plumbridge on Monday.

Army bomb experts made safe the incendiary device, packed into a padded envelope, just before midnight.

Police in Strabane have warned the public to be vigilant and to report any suspicious packages sent by post immediately.

Mr McBride told BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday that he would continue to serve on the DPP.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde said the intimidation would not succeed

"There are obviously elements out there that would not welcome the move forward in policing for their own selfish purposes," said the SDLP councillor.

"But given what the DPPs are about and what the wider community needs, I think a lot of people are fast drawing the conclusion that the people who are attacking the DPPs are in a small minority."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the attack illustrated "the cowardice of those willing to jeopardise the lives of small children by sending a device of this nature to his home".

Chief Constable Hugh Orde condemned the attack.

"Since this campaign of intimidation has started, very few have felt it necessary to leave the district policing partnerships," he said.

"It doesn't work because people are clearly committed to supporting local policing and holding my local officers to account, which is the main reason for district policing partnerships to exist."

Policing Board Vice Chairman Denis Bradley said it was a "cowardly and malicious act".

Security minister Jane Kennedy praised the courage of DPP members across Northern Ireland.

"The commitment of these people who follow their strong sense of civic duty will also be internationally recognised by President Bush when he meets DPP members in Washington next week," she said.

'Outrage'

Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone, Pat Doherty said the attack was an "absolute outrage".

"The people involved in this have no mandate or strategy," he said.

It is the second time Mr McBride has been targeted.

Last September, a hoax device was left on the doorstep of his home.

There have been a number of attacks on the homes of DPP members in County Tyrone by dissident republicans.

Last October the BBC revealed that security cameras were to be placed on the homes of district policing partnership members across the county.

District policing partnerships were set up across Northern Ireland under reforms initiated by a commission headed by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten and implemented by the government.

The partnerships are made up of councillors and members of the local community, who work alongside the Police Service of Northern Ireland's 29 District Command Units in trying to meet local community policing needs.