SDLP election candidate Nichola Mallon believes a paramilitary threat is connected to her criticism of public funding for a loyalist community organisation.

The north Belfast politician said she was informed by police several weeks ago that a bullet had been intercepted in the post, with the threat linked to the UDA.

Ms Mallon, who is pregnant, was among opposition MLAs who spoke out about Social Investment Fund (SIF) money being allocated to east Belfast group Charter NI, whose chief executive Dee Stitt is an alleged commander of the UDA in north Down.

Thank you to everyone who has sent such supportive wishes today. I really appreciate it. — Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) February 14, 2017

"The UDA is still actively engaging in criminality, including intimidation and forcing people from their homes," she said.

"Almost 20 years on from the Good Friday Agreement there are still attempts to threaten and intimidate those of us with democratic mandates who challenge the channelling of millions of pounds of public money to an organisation with PSNI-confirmed connections to active paramilitaries."

The board of Charter NI has previously said it does not condone illegal or criminal activity of any kind.