AN attempted bomb attack in  Exeter has been used to highlight the terror threat facing  the country as ministers announced extra cash to protect  public places.

A Home Office consultation document on how businesses and agencies, including the police and community  groups, could help the fight  against terrorism said recent  cases had shown the extent to  which extremists target areas where there are large  numbers of people.

Security minister Lord  West said £5m would be made  available to local authorities  and agencies across the country to help them work together to ensure public places  were kept safe.

The consultation document was published following a review of terrorism  threats in crowded places,  which concluded a new approach was needed to encourage local partnerships to  work together on the issue.

Called “Working Together  to Protect Crowded Places”, it  provides advice on how such  agencies can achieve this.

It said that the UK faces a  high level of threat from international terrorism, and an  attack could take place without warning.

The threat level to the UK is  currently assessed to be ‘severe’, meaning that a terrorist attack is highly likely.

The document said: “In the  UK we have seen attacks on  public transport and an airport terminal building, and  car bombs left in the vicinity  of nightclubs.

“Convicted terrorists have  considered such targets as  shopping centres, nightclubs  and hotels.

“Recent cases have shown  the extent to which terrorists  are prepared to target crowded public places.”

It pointed to the failed  bomb attack at the Giraffe  restaurant in Exeter city centre last May.

Muslim convert Nicky  Reilly was jailed at the Old  Bailey in January for life  with a minimum of 18 years  for his botched bid to detonate his home-made explosives, that went off in his  hands.

The document states:  “Crowded places will remain  an attractive target for terrorists, who have demonstrated that they are likely to  target places which are easily  accessible, regularly available and which offer the  prospect for an impact beyond the loss of life alone —  for example serious disruption, or a particular economic/political impact.”

The failed Exeter attack also featured recently in a government anti-terror guide to  illustrate the need to be prepared throughout the country to deal with an attack and  to minimise its effects.

Speaking at a Home Office  conference Lord West said:  “We know people want to attack public places.

“They want to cause mass  casualties of innocent people.  We are working to stop that.  There is no greater priority  for the Government than the  safety and security of the public and all parts of society  have important contributions to make.”

He said there was “absolutely no room for complacency” regarding terrorism.

He added: “We have done  lots and achieved lots but  there is still a great threat. It’s  right to recognise our success...and how far we have  come and I think we have  done very well. However, the  threat level in this country  does remain severe.”