North's leaders to visit White House on St Patrick’s Day

The North's First and Deputy First Ministers are both set to attend this year's annual St Patrick's Day festivities at the White House.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are due to meet President Barack Obama as part of a wider trip to the US to drum up investment for the North.

They say they are determined to prevent American companies in the North from pulling the plug due to the global recession.

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness will be making a series of visits this week to firms in the North which have US parent companies.