DUP leader Arlene Foster has said the organising of a champagne reception hosted by her party at the Conservative Party conference was due to being “lost in translation”.

As well as the traditional ‘Ulster Fry’ breakfast at the Tory party event in Birmingham on Tuesday, conference attendees were also treated to a DUP reception with a difference.

Ms Foster told UTV: “It got a little bit lost in translation, we were supposed to have a drinks reception and somehow it turned into a champagne reception but we’ve got a lot of attention out of it and I’m hoping it will draw in the crowds to hear about Northern Ireland.”

When asked what the party’s late teetotal founder Ian Paisley would have made of the alcoholic drinks being served, the DUP leader said: “I would say that Doc would be looking down and saying ‘what’s going on down there’, but you know what, non-alcoholic drinks will also be available.”