Counting continues in the Northern election

Counting is continuing in the North with 51 of the 108 seats filled and 57 to go.

The pattern emerging is of DUP and Sinn Féin gains with problems for the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble.

The Taoiseach and the British prime minister are meeting in Cardiff this morning at a British Irish Inter-governmental council meeting to assess the results.

However, pro-agreement unionists are hoping that nationalist voters will have transferred their second votes over to the UUP.