A BOMB THREAT received by police in the south of France has resulted in the evacuation of thousands of Catholic pilgrims from Lourdes.

About 30,000 Catholic worshippers were in the town to celebrate the annual Feast of the Assumption.

Lourdes has been the site of Roman Catholic pilgrimages since a young local girl, Bernadette Soubirous, reported visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Around six million people visit the area every year, with many seeking cures for illnesses.

Lourdes is a popular pilgrimage site for Irish Catholics.

Police said that a call received today threatened that four bombs would explode in Lourdes at 3pm. Bomb disposal experts are at the scene, but there have been no reports of explosions.

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Bomb threat at Lourdes

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