Sinn Féin makes strong start as local government election votes counted

Sinn Féin candidates Bronach Anglin (left) and Conor Maskey (centre) celebrate after being been elected to serve as Belfast City Councillors, during the 2023 local election count at Belfast City Hall (Liam McBurney/PA)

Sinn Féin appears to have made a strong start as the first results of Northern Ireland local government elections emerge.

By 3pm on Friday, the party was leading the way with 29 councillors elected ahead of the DUP with 18 seats, the Alliance Party with eight seats, UUP with four and the SDLP with one seat.