UUP's Dermot Nesbitt to retire at next election

A veteran Ulster Unionist politician has announced his intention to retire from politics at next year's Assembly election.

South Down MLA Dermot Nesbitt, who was Environment Minister in the power-sharing Executive led by David Trinble, says he will not be seeking re-election when voters go to the polls in March.

Mr Nesbitt has been actively involved in politics since the 1970s and helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement.

He has been one of its staunchest unionist defenders since then.