Army bomb experts dealt with the device

SDLP councillor Michael Carr became suspicious after the device was posted to his home in Warrenpoint.

"I am very annoyed and angry - there are children in this house who could have opened the package," he said.

Mr Carr said he believed it was sent by the Real IRA. He said the dissident republicans have threatened him before, sending bullets inside sympathy cards.

He added: "The actions that were required to deal with the package inconvenienced my neighbours, some of whom are quite elderly."

A number of SDLP members of district policing partnerships have been the target of intimidation.

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.

They fall under the auspices of the Northern Ireland Policing Board which handles some of the most sensitive issues facing policing.