Peter Robinson hopeful Game of Thrones will stay in NI

The crew and actors during the filming of series three of Game of Thrones

First Minister Peter Robinson has said he is hopeful Northern Ireland will be the location for any new series of the TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

The first three series were filmed in Northern Ireland and attracted at least £6m in grants.

American film company HBO said it had not formally announced whether another series would be made.

The first and deputy first ministers met HBO representatives during their trip to the US this week.

They hoped to encourage them to film a fourth series in Northern Ireland.

"We start ahead because they already have facilities here. They know the terrain," said Mr Robinson.

"If they are to move elsewhere then there are additional costs that they have to take into account. So we are in the lead in terms of getting it, and I would hope within the next fortnight or so that we will be able to get a positive outcome."

'Successful relationship'

Major parts of the first three series of the medieval fantasy drama were made in Northern Ireland with the assistance of £6m in grants.

"We will continue to build on our highly successful relationship with HBO and have made a strong argument for any further series to continue to be filmed in Northern Ireland," Mr Robinson added.

Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness attended the screening of the first episode of season three of the series during their visit to the US.

The third season of Game of Thrones will premier in Canada and the US at the end of the month, and in the UK in April.

An announcement on the future of the series is expected shortly.

HBO spokesperson Hannah Pullen said: "Season four has not yet been confirmed for Game of Thrones so at this stage we have no further information to share about any future production I'm afraid."

Northern Ireland Screen Fund, supported by Invest NI and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, provided HBO with £6.05m in grants for the pilot and the first two series.

Production for seasons one, two and three of Game of Thrones was based in Belfast with filming in the Titanic Studios and at locations across Northern Ireland including the North Coast, Tollymore Forest Park, Castle Ward and the banks of the Quoile in Downpatrick.

According to the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), the series has already generated an estimated £65m for the local economy.

As well as Northern Ireland, parts of the series were filmed on location in Malta, Croatia, Iceland, and Morocco.

The first series premiered on HBO in the United States in April 17, 2011. The series, based on George RR Martin's best-selling books, has won numerous awards and nominations.