A fire station in the North gutted in an overnight blaze was not fitted with smoke alarms, officials confirmed today.

Investigators are today trying to determine the cause of an overnight blaze that destroyed a fire station.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain has succeeded in overturning a court ruling quashing his appointment of two Portadown Orangemen to the Parades Commission.

The Court of Appeal in the North is due to issue its judgement today on whether the appointment of two Orangemen to the Parades Commission was a breach of the law.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP are seeking the resignation of the second Orangeman appointed to the Parades Commission by the British government last year.