For some time it had looked as if East Antrim would become the first constituency in Northern Ireland to elect a Ukip MLA.

It was the party's Noel Jordan who came closest to causing a political upset by threatening to steal Alastair Ross' seat from the DUP.

By the end of the count on Friday David Hilditch and Gordon Lyons of the DUP had been elected, along with the UUP's Roy Beggs jnr.

Early on Saturday they were followed by the Alliance's Stewart Dickson, leaving a scrap for the final two seats between Sinn Fein's Oliver McMullan, the DUP's Mr Ross, UUP's John Stewart and Ukip's Mr Jordan.

Ukip leader David McNarry arrived at the count to support his candidate, but in the end it was Mr McMullan and Mr Ross who retained their seats.

Belfast Telegraph