Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid has held talks with loyalist and republican political leaders in a bid to end the violence ravaging east Belfast, it emerged tonight.

Five people were shot during the sectarian violence which ravaged Belfast for a fourth night running, it emerged today.

Alliance councillors in Belfast were today due to announce whether they will vote for the city’s first Sinn Fein mayor.

The growing number of affluent people in Northern Ireland are being targeted by Abbey National, who today offered to manage their money for them.