Poll suggests DUP and SF will remain largest parties

An opinion poll in the North has suggested that the DUP and Sinn Féin will maintain their positions as the North's main political parties after the upcoming Assembly election.

The poll puts support for the DUP at 25%, followed by Sinn Féin at 22%.

The SDLP and the Ulster Unionists are lagging behind on 20% and 16% respectively, with support for the Alliance Party put at 9%.

Just half of those polled said they believed there was a likelihood of a working Executive after the election.

Only one-quarter, meanwhile, said they believed Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness could work well together as First and Deputy First Minister in a new power-sharing administration.