Fresh talks are to be held to break the deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process.

The Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers says new cross-party negotiations will focus on outstanding issues, such as how to deal with "flags, parades and the past", issues which Villiers said, “are consuming ever increasing amounts of time and resources"

The return of unionists to the discussions was key, said Villiers. “"we urgently need unionists back round the table to tackle the legacy issues,” she said.

Villiers says she will be engaging in the next few days with the Irish government and the five main parties to discuss the precise format and agenda for the talks. All parties need to work together, Villiers said, to "lift the blockages which are now preventing the devolved executive from delivering the efficient and effective government that the people of Northern Ireland want and deserve".