Counting of the Northern Ireland ballots began on Friday morning, as the last few results from the rest of the UK were being declared

There were no surprises in West Belfast, the first constituency to declare, with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams comfortably retaining his seat

SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell's victory in South Belfast was not so certain. He clinched the seat from the Ulster Unionist Party. Retiring outgoing MP Martin Smyth had held the seat for the party for many years.

UUP leader David Trimble listens as his worst fears are confirmed that he has lost his Upper Bann seat to DUP challenger David Simpson

This picture shows what it meant for Ian Paisley's DUP to claim the scalp of their unionist rival's leader

Nigel Dodds easily held on to his North Belfast seat for the DUP. He is pictured with his wife Diane who was standing in West Belfast but had little chance of unseating Gerry Adams

One of the key election battles was fought in Foyle. Mark Durkan (right) chats to Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness. Outgoing Foyle MP John Hume looks glum in the background

Martin McGuinness took his 14-month-old granddaughter Cara to the Mid Ulster count to watch him top the poll

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy nervously waits before hearing whether he has been elected - the headline proved his confidence was justified as his party took the seat from the SDLP