Latest: Sinn Féin acknowledge progress in powersharing deal talks with DUP

Update 8.45pm: Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists are hammering out details of a potential deal that could end Stormont's 13 month powersharing crisis.

The North's two main parties were locked in negotiations through today, scrubbing a scheduled round table meeting with the region's smaller parties, amid mounting speculation an agreement may be in sight.