Nigel Dodds polled almost 15,000 votes

The DUP's Nigel Dodds has retained his seat in North Belfast with 14,812 votes.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly was second with 12,588 and Alban Maginness of the SDLP third with 4,544.

Fred Cobain, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists - New Force, polled 2,837 votes, the Alliance Party's William Webb, 1,809, and independent Martin McAuley, 403.

Mr Dodds has been MP for the constituency since 2001.

He faced a much closer contest in 2010 compared to the 2005 Westminster election, with his nearest rival, Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly, increasing his personal vote by more than 3,800.

In the 2005 Westminster election, Mr Dodds polled 13,935 votes with Mr Kelly getting 8,747 votes.

Mr Dodds said he was happy to have won the seat again despite "the boundary changes and all the other things that were going on".

"As far as tonight is concerned, we have laid down a very clear message across Northern Ireland that this province wants to move forward and the results across the province show that very, very clearly."

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