First Minister Peter Robinson has confirmed that he will launch legal action against the BBC and other broadcasters over his exclusion from pre-election leader debates.

The DUP chief met with lawyers in London yesterday and said the broadcasters will be contacted next week.

Last month BBC director general Tony Hall rejected the DUP's request to be included in the TV debates.

Although the DUP is the fourth biggest party at Westminster, the BBC argues it would not be fair to invite only one of the Northern Ireland parties to take part in a UK debate. The broadcasters' plans feature two debates with seven parties, including Ukip, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.

The DUP had written to the BBC and ITV asking for an explanation as to why the party had not been invited to take part in the live televised election debates.

In his written reply to the DUP, Lord Hall is understood to have said the decision not to include them complied with the BBC's obligations of impartiality.

Mr Robinson said the broadcasters are to be contacted by his lawyers next week.

"The BBC and the other broadcasters have the opportunity to reconsider the irrational decision they have taken. We will offer them a meeting to talk about the issues but I think they are misdirected themselves in terms of their own guidelines, and I think we can show them fairly clearly that what they have done is unfair and discriminatory, both against the party that has a major stake in terms of the formation of a government in the next election, but also against Northern Ireland."

The BBC and ITV are currently planning to hold two debates involving the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Ukip, Plaid Cymru, SNP and the Greens.

A third debate - hosted by Sky and Channel 4 - would feature a head-to-head between Mr Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Belfast Telegraph