Ervine 'fighting for life'

David Ervine, one of the North's leading loyalist politicians, was tonight fighting for his life in hospital.

Sources said Mr Ervine had suffered either a heart attack or a stroke overnight.

His family was at his bedside in a Belfast hospital.

A spokesperson for the Progressive Unionist Party, which he leads, said their thoughts and prayers were with the family.

Mr Ervine is the Assembly member for East Belfast.