Former Northern Ireland secretary of state Theresa Villiers has said the political parties in the North should be given more than three weeks to agree a new power-sharing deal at Stormont.

Her comments came in the wake of yesterday's Assembly elections in which nationalists closed the gap on unionists at Stormont.

Efforts to form a new power-sharing administration will start early next week.

Speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Ms Villiers said: "The law at the moment requires a fresh election after three weeks if there is no coalition formed. And so I think it will be important for the secretary of state to have legislation ready to give the parties more time.

"I think it would be a pity if they were launched back into yet another election just after three weeks."

Arlene Foster remains safe as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party despite its disappointing performance in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The DUP stalwart said there is no question over Ms Foster's future and she will be back to take the lead at Stormont.

The pro-Brexit party narrowly remained the region's largest by just one seat as Sinn Féin enjoyed major gains in the snap election.

The DUP previously had ten seats more than Sinn Féin.

Mr Donaldson said that despite the bruising result, the DUP is still the largest party and its focus now "is on Arlene and the party getting a government up and running again at Stormont".

Sinn Féin's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill has said a "big job lies ahead" in terms of getting Stormont up and running.

"We have to go in there wanting to find a way forward. But we have to have fundamental change from the DUP," she said.

"There is a hard road in front of us in the next three weeks but Sinn Féin is coming at it trying to find a way forward."

If agreement cannot be reached in that time, then, under law, another election will be called.

But Mr Donaldson said: "If we can't get a government formed within three weeks I don't think the Westminster government will allow another election. I think they will introduce direct rule.

"We are determined to work to achieve (power-sharing government) but if it doesn't happen I fear we could be looking at a lengthy period of direct rule."

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Just 1,168 first preference votes separated the DUP and Sinn Féin and, for the first time, unionists will not have an overall majority at Stormont.

Amid the fallout, Mike Nesbitt said he would resign as Ulster Unionist leader.

It was a positive campaign for both the SDLP and Alliance, who both maintained their seats.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the return of 12 MLAs to a reduced Assembly was a statement of intent as the party had arrested a period of decline.

"This is the first time since 1998 that we have recorded gains. The SDLP is on the move," he said.

The election was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Ms Foster's DUP and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness.

Mr McGuinness resigned over Ms Foster's refusal to step aside as first minister pending an inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, which could cost the Northern Ireland taxpayer £490m.