A mother of four has said she and her family were victims of mistaken identity after a pipe bomb exploded in their north Belfast home in the early hours of Friday.

Nicola Nugent was in her Stanhope Street house in the Carrick Hill area with her four children, aged from 18 months to 18 years, when the device was pushed through the letterbox around 3am and detonated.

The explosion caused damage to the front door and hallway and filled the house with smoke. Nugent and her children escaped without injury.

She said she was woken by the explosion and initially thought it might have been a hairspray can or something in the house, but later saw metal on the ground. Police confirmed it was a pipe bomb.

Nugent, who has lived in the area all her life, said she was certain the attack was not meant for her family. "This wasn't meant for me, it's definitely a case of mistaken identity," she said.

Army bomb experts examined the scene and a number of nearby residents were evacuated while the security operation was carried out. All cordons have now been lifted and residents have returned to their homes.

Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín described the attack as attempted murder and said the family were very lucky, particularly given the recent deaths in Waterford. She urged anyone with information to contact police.

Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee condemned what he called a reckless and dangerous act that had left the community in shock. Frank Dempsey of Carrick Hill Residents' Association said the community was angry and disappointed, and that the family had been subjected to this type of activity though they do nobody any harm.

Police have appealed for anyone who noticed suspicious behaviour in the area around the time of the explosion, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 141 16/10/26.