UUP's Rodgers elected as new Lord Mayor of Belfast

The Ulster Unionist Party's Jim Rodgers has been elected to a second term as Lord Mayor of Belfast with the support of the SDLP.

Mr Rodgers, who has already served a term as mayor in 2001, was selected for the job following a tense vote last night.

Sinn Féin had been hoping that its candidate, Tierna Cunningham, would become the youngest-ever and only the second female mayor of the city.

It has criticised the SDLP for backing the UUP candidate despite a rotation deal, but the SDLP says Sinn Féin has twice voted against its candidates in recent years.