Multi-million pound investment expected for the North

A multi-million pound US investment in the North is expected to be announced later today in New York.

The North's first and deputy first minister are New York drumming up support for next month's Belfast investment conference.

The office of the comptroller of New York City has taken an interest in the North for many years, first under Alan Hevesi and now under William Thompson.

That relationship appears to have borne fruit with an investment worth over one hundred million pounds expected later today.

The mayor's office says the amount is unprecedented and the largest ever US investment in the North.

It is expected to be called The Emerald Fund and its headquarters will be in Belfast.