Powersharing talks in Northern Ireland could continue into next week after Gerry Adams suggested the deadline for reaching an agreement will not be met on Monday.

The Sinn Fein president said the door was still open but there had been no sense of urgency to restore multi-party devolved government in Stormont.

Government sources last night reiterated the desire in Westminster to avoid direct rule at all costs, leading to claims that the major parties are likely to be given an extension to continue talks if they fail to reach an agreement by lunchtime today.