The security operation was launched in Bellaghy on Sunday after police received information that a device was left in the village ahead of the parade.

However, local members of the Royal British Legion said there was no evidence of police carrying out searches, even though their parade was cancelled.

Ronnie Curry of Castledawson and District RBL said there was "a sense of anger and frustration" among members regarding the alert.

"If we had seen a police cordon or visible searches going on then we would have accepted the decision to cancel the parade," he said.

The News Letter asked the PSNI what part of the town was compromised by the warning and why there were no evidence of police carrying out any searches if the threat was serious enough to cancel the parade.

A police spokeswoman responded that some situations have to be handled "cautiously" in order to counter death threats against police.

"Because the safety of officers and the public is a priority for the PSNI, some situations may have to be dealt with cautiously due to the significant threat from dissident republican criminals, who have shown their determination to kill officers," she said.

"Due to security concerns police had a discussion with the organisers of yesterday's planned parade at Bellaghy and it was agreed that the parade would be postponed although a church service would go ahead.

"The police helicopter was deployed yesterday. Today a further search was carried out during which nothing suspicious was found."