Teacher to take vacant Assembly seat

Tom Hamilton is to fill the seat left empty by Ulster Unionist Tom Benson.

Mr Hamilton, mayor of Ards Borough Council, County Down, was selected to take the seat for Strangford which was previously held by Mr Benson, 71. He died on Christmas Eve after a stroke two months earlier.

The speaker in the Assembly, Lord Alderdice, confirmed the move at the start of business in the chamber.

Mr Hamilton, a 44-year-old school teacher who is widely regarded as being a supporter of Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, agreed to take on the post after Mr Benson's daughter, Elaine Allen, turned it down.