The DUP has emerged as the clear winner in the European elections in Northern Ireland.

The party recorded 175,761 votes - coming well ahead of the other parties and securing one of the province's three seats.

But the republicans had cause to celebrate when Sinn Fein secured its first Brussels seat in Northern Ireland.

Bairbre de Brun came second in the poll - joining the DUP's Jim Allister in the European parliament.

Sinn Fein stole a march on the more moderate SDLP - whose position may have been undermined by John Hume's decision to stand down from the seat he previously held.

The third seat went to Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson after second preference votes were taken into account through the single transferable vote system.

The DUP said its lead over the UUP was now confirmed.

"The Ulster Unionist Party trails at half our vote," said Allister. "This, however, is not Jim Allister's victory.

"This is the victory of the unionist people of Northern Ireland because in this election
there was a most trenchant and aggressive push by IRA/Sinn Fein to become the biggest party in this province by chopping this poll."