The North’s Parades Commission has decided to re-route the first contentious parade of this year’s loyalist marching season away from the nationalist Lower Ormeau area of south Belfast.

A man is recovering in hospital in Belfast this morning after being shot in the leg in a paramilitary style punishment attack last night.

A judge has granted permission for a judicial review to begin either tonight or tomorrow morning on behalf of nationalist residents on Belfast's Lr Ormeau Rd against an Apprentice Boys parade in the district on Monday.

A decision to allow loyalists to march along a flashpoint nationalist area in the North has been upheld.