Sinn Féin poised to become biggest party in Northern Ireland councils

Nationalist party made sweeping gains including unprecedented breakthroughs in Down and Antrim

Sinn Féin is on track to become the biggest party in Northern Ireland local government after sweeping gains in council elections.

With counting still under way on Saturday the party was poised to overtake the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) and become the first nationalist party to hold the most council seats.