HOTELIERS were given advice on how to prevent terrorist attacks during an event in Bournemouth on Tuesday.

James Coppock of the South West Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit spoke at a meeting of Hotel Watch. More than 100 hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets are members of the scheme.

Mr Coppock referred to the IRA's attack in Bournemouth in 1993 as part of his talk.

During the incident, members of the terrorist organisation planted eight bombs around the town, five of which detonated in two separate attacks. The Maples furniture store was destroyed and three other shops damaged.

A bomb also went off on the pier, which caused structural damage. Only minor injuries were reported.

However, Mr Coppock said the IRA are still a threat. In May 2016, the government graded the risk to British interests from the organisation as 'substantial'. It had previously been 'moderate', he said.

"[The Bournemouth attack] was a longtime ago, but could they do it again? Why not?" he said.

He also told participants at the meeting to look out for 'hostile reconnaissance', the term given to the information-gathering phase individuals or groups with malicious intent.

"[Terrorists] go to sites and look for vulnerabilities," he said.

"When we see things and think, 'That's a bit odd', my job is to encourage people to say, 'I'll report it'."