As signs of sectarian division again overtook the local political scene in a row over a proposal for bilingual road signs, a Protestant church leader has been building bridges.

The Presbyterian Moderator, Norman Hamilton (pictured) and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams met yesterday to seek agreement on a way forward in tackling sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

Rev Hamilton met with Mr Adams at the party's headquarters on the Falls Road in west Belfast to discuss a range of issues including sectarianism, social deprivation and social cohesion.

The Moderator described the meeting as a "very good and engaged discussion" and Mr Adams said: "I think one of the ways to tackle sectarianism is to be anti-sectarian and to lead by example.

"Sinn Fein's perception of all of this is that sectarianism was a means of control - of keeping Catholics in their place and keeping Protestants in their place also. In the middle of all that, you have to deal with ignorance and intolerance."

The two leaders have met before on several occasions to discuss community issues in relation to Mr Adams' role as the MP for West Belfast, but these discussions followed the Moderator's first historic meeting with GAA officials on Monday, in which the two organisations explored ways of working together to "build a shared future" for Northern Ireland.

This was also the first time in the church's history that a Presbyterian Moderator had met with the sporting organisation.

(BMcC/GK)