Sinn Féin’s Jennifer McCann is to step down from her role as a West Belfast MLA, it has been reported.

Ms McCann will step down from her Assembly role over the coming weeks in order to focus on a new position as party advisor to Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, according to local paper Andersonstown News.

She said she will be involved in helping Minister O’Neill deliver the biggest transformation of the health service in more than 70 years after Ms O'Neill requested additional support from her party.

Her replacement is to be chosen at a selection convention on 1 December.

The former junior minister told the paper that her decision “wasn’t an easy one”, adding it has been "an honour and a privilege to have been elected to represent the people of West Belfast since 2007".

She said she will still continue to work for the people of the Colin district.