The Ulster Unionist Party's Robin Swann has topped the poll in North Antrim with an additional 3,000 votes.

"It’s a good day for Ulster Unionism in North Antrim," he says.

He adds that it shows there is "still a battle to be had".

Mr Swann’s stint as health minister appears to have bolstered his vote in North Antrim.

In 2017, he was 2,000 votes shy of the quota in the first round of counting and didn’t get over the line until stage six.

Image source, PA Media

While some of his colleagues may be in trouble in other areas, Mr Swann says it's been a long time since an Ulster Unionist has topped the poll in North Antrim and that's what he's focussing on.

The current health minister won't be drawn into predicting where else there might be gains for his party.

It has been a "challenging" two years for the minister, who's been at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He says that his election shows that a lot of his support has been "testimony to the delivery of the health service over the past few years" and adds that the work of the health service has been reflected in the vote.

"It's a tribute to the work we have been able to deliver," he adds.

But - will there be an executive?

"We need one. It would be a dereliction of duty for those who are elected to take an executive place, not to do so," he says.

Independent candidate Alex Easton has topped the poll in North Down with 9,568 votes.

The quota is 6,958.

Mr Easton, who left the DUP last year, says he is grateful to those who continued to vote for him this time round.

“I’m just an independent MLA…I enjoy representing my constituents and delivering on the ground. My plan is to stay as an independent.”

One of the day's winners has been the TUV, seeing a surge in support across the region.

So far the party has taken 8.4% of first preference votes, a 5.1% increase on its last outing in 2017.

It looks like it may translate into one additional seat to the one currently held by leader Jim Allister - with Stephen Cooper taking 5,186, putting him close to the quota 6,811.

"It augers very well, not just for the party, but for unionism. I think the message has been loud and clear around the protocol," Mr Cooper tells BBC News NI.

"I hope that continues in Stormont, and I hope other unionists will stand beside us and provide a unionist front, and say ‘enough is enough’. And regardless of our numbers, I hope we can stand together and give that clear message."

He adds that he felt the anti-protocol rallies had contributed to his party's strong showing.

"There was that real feeling among grassroots loyalists and unionists, we are being treated like second class citizens. Jim Allister has been doggedly determined to get that message across."

Alliance leader Naomi Long says her party is "serious about making Stormont work, we're not interested in playing games".

The Ulster Unionist Party's Roy Beggs has been eliminated in stage two of the count in East Antrim.

He has been a UUP MLA since 1998 and the failure to retain the seat is a huge blow for the party.

No other candidates have reached the quota at this stage.

We may be waiting another while yet for a result from Foyle.

There are 300 votes in it between the DUP's Gary Middleton and UUP's Ryan McCready.

It is understood that a recount is underway, requested by the Ulster Unionists, according to our reporter Darran Marshall.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says unionism "simply can't afford the divisions that exist".

Sinéad Ennis and Cathy Mason have both been elected in South Down.

Ms Ennis is elected with 14,381 first preference votes.

Cathy Mason is elected with 9,963 first preference votes.

The quota is 9,159.

UUP's Robin Swann and Sinn Féin's Philip McGuigan have both won seats in North Antrim.

Robin Swann, the health minister during the Covid pandemic, tops the poll with 9,530 first preference votes.

Philip McGuigan is elected with 9,348 first preference votes.

Mr Swann said this not only a political victory but a personal one after a “challenging two years”.

Mr Swann’s stint as health minister would appear to have bolstered his vote in North Antrim.

In 2017, he was 2,000 votes shy of the quota in the first round of counting and didn’t get over the line until stage six.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who has been elected in Lagan Valley in the first count, says that one of the key messages is that “unionism simply cannot afford the divisions that exist".

“There are seats that might be lost because of divisions, despite that the common ground we share, whether it is our belief in the union or our opposition to the Irish sea border and the protocol.

"I have called for greater unionist cooperation and I think that's what unionist voters want to see - one of the lessons emerging from this election will be the harm that division in votes does to our ability to win elections," he adds.

Image source, Pacemaker

But would he take up the role of first minister or deputy first minister if entitled to do so?

He says it's too early to say and he wants to see what the government is going to do about the Irish Sea border.

Until then his position remains as it was when he decided to withdraw Paul Givan as first minister.

"Our party officers will meet to consider the way forward – when the votes are in," he adds.

Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent

Since arriving here at the Titanic Exhibition Centre this morning - it’s been easy to spot which party is by far the happiest.

Every Alliance Party candidate, activist and supporter has been smiling.

The early tallies are now turning into positive results.

Alliance is on course to gain seats in areas where it hasn’t won before - and possibly pick up a second seat in some constituencies where it already has a Stormont representative.

The Sinn Féin mood has been lifted in particular by the result Belfast North, where its two candidates were elected at the first stage - in spite of pre-election speculation at least one of them could lose out.

The Ulster Unionist Party and nationalist SDLP are decidedly downbeat - as they, so far, bear the brunt of the Alliance surge.

Members of the Democratic Unionist Party are not as subdued.

But it’s not difficult to pick up a certain nervousness from their corner, as it becomes clear Sinn Féin may well replace them as the largest party at Stormont.

A key deciding factor may be how many transfers go to the DUP from other unionist parties - including the Traditional Unionist Voice.

The TUV has only ever had its leader Jim Allister elected to Stormont - but its vote share has rocketed in a number of constituencies.

The DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who's been elected in his constituency on the first count,

"I am delighted with our first preference result in Lagan Valley. We came in with 18,000 first preference votes for he DUP and we are looking forward to Paul [Givan] being elected later once my votes have been transferred.

"It was a fair campaign in Lagan Valley, fought hard but I think the DUP can be very pleased with our result here,” he adds.

However he says that in terms of the final outcome it's simply too early to say.

“We are watching a number of seats very closely - it’s going to be very tight as to who will emerge as the largest party.

Good afternoon, if you're just joining us, here's what's currently happening across Northern Ireland.

It was a slow morning waiting for the first candidates to be elected, however there are now 10 candidates who have got across the winning line.

Image source, Pacemaker

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill has been elected in Mid Ulster with 10,845 first preference votes.

Danny Baker has been re-elected in Belfast West with 9,011 votes - 20.6% of the vote share in the constituency.

In Belfast South, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has come out on top with 9,511 first preference voters.

Both Sinn Féin candidates in North Belfast, Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín have been elected on the first count - taking home 8,395 and 7,932 first preference votes respectively.

Alliance leader Naomi Long has been elected in Belfast East with 8,195 first preference votes.

She'll be joined by her party colleague Kellie Armstrong who topped poll with 7,015 first preference votes.

Image source, Pacemaker

Over in Lagan Valley, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been elected, taking 12,626 first preference votes.

in Belfast East the DUP's Joanne Bunting has also been elected with 7,253.

Sinn Féin’s Nicola Brogan has been elected in West Tyrone on the first count.

Fresh from winning her seat, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long is not celebrating just yet at the prospect of a surge for her party.

"There's a long way to go in terms of what will happen next," she says.

"There's a lot of transfers to be counted and I never like to count my chickens before they hatch, so let's just to wait to see what happens.

"If you look at first preference votes, absolutely Alliance are polling very strongly but a lot will depend particularly on those fourth and fifth seats.

"It seems to be a very positive day for the party and unusually for the assembly, we've never actually lost an assembly seat - so that says something about how we've managed our campaigns over the years and hopefully this year too".

Asked about predictions that the party could double their seats from 8 to 16, she says "it's not impossible".

"The reason I'm not willing to give predictions is because there's always a risk that people see that as a ceiling to our ambition and there is no ceiling to our ambition".

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill says it could be a historic day "for many reasons".

Sinn Féin has increased its share of the vote in Belfast North.

There were some questions about whether or not the party could hold its share of the vote in the constituency, and if some fresh faces from other parties would give Sinn Féin veterans Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín a close run.

But Sinn Féin’s share of the vote increased by 6.1 percentage points in the constituency, with both Mr Kelly and Ms Ní Chuilín returned on first preference votes.

BBC News NI news correspondent Mark Simpson says it could be one of the stories of the day so far, with Sinn Féin “more than holding their own”.

Also growing its vote in Belfast North is the TUV, with a 7.2 percentage point increase.

Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney has topped the poll in South Antrim with 9,185 first preference votes.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been elected in Lagan Valley with 12,626 votes - well above the quota of 8,506.

Sinn Féin's Deirdre Hargey has been elected in Belfast South with 9,511 first preference votes.