Christian group to challenge equal rights for gay people

A Christian group in the North is planning to take Northern Secretary Peter Hain to court in a bid to block new equality legislation.

The new measures outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, services and education.

The Christian Institute, which says it represents 15,000 people, claims the concerns of religious people are being trampled on the new laws amount to preferential status for homosexuals.

On Monday, the DUP failed in an attempt to get the Northern Assembly to delay the introduction of the new legislation.