Paisley rushed to hospital

The North's former First Minister Ian Paisley has been admitted to hospital in Belfast, it has emerged.

The 85-year-old is understood to have been taken ill at home yesterday and was rushed to the Ulster Hospital in the Belfast suburb of Dundonald.

The nature of his illness has not been confirmed.

Mr Paisley, a former MP for north Antrim, was leader of the Democratic Unionist Party for almost 40 years and late last month preached his final sermon after standing down as moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church.

He had started work on his autobiography.

Mr Paisley's wife confirmed that her husband was being treated in the Ulster Hospital.

A statement said: “She requests that the family’s privacy be respected at this difficult time.”