Clinton Visit 'Off'

There are no "immediate plans" for a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Despite recent anticipation, she does not have any pressing plans to visit Northern Ireland, it has emerged. It had been thought Mrs Clinton, who visited NI a number of times when her husband Bill was president, was planning a trip in the autumn. That is no longer the case.

Arrests Follow Failed PO Robbery

Police tracking a gang who tried to rob a Co Antrim post office arrested four men today. At around 9am a number of men armed with a handgun forced customers in the post office in Cullybackey to lie on the floor as they staged a robbery. The alarm in the premises was activated and the men fled the scene on foot. Police later stopped a suspicious vehicle and arrested four occupants, all men, and recovered a number of items. The men are helping police with their enquiries. Police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Girl Recovering After Being Run Over

A 13-year-old hit-and-run road accident victim is recovering well after being knocked down by a car in Co Fermanagh. Police are still hunting the driver who injured the girl in Enniskillen town centre on Sunday afternoon. She was taken to hospital with a broken leg after she was knocked off her bike on the Derrychara Road. It happened at about 5pm at traffic lights at the entrance to the Tesco supermarket - the male driver continued on into the car park. A PSNI spokesman appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident and who could help identify the driver to contact them.

Lagan Man Rescued

There was traffic disruption during Monday's morning's rush hour as a man was rescued from the River Lagan in east Belfast. A number of fire appliances attended the scene close to the Albert Bridge to save the male victim. He has been taken to hospital, where his condition is not yet known. The incident caused disruption as police had to close one lane of the Albertbridge Road.

City Body 'Not Suspicious'

A body found in Belfast city centre on Sunday is not thought to be suspicious, police have reported. An initial post-mortem suggested the incident was from natural causes and a report is being prepared for the coroner's office. The male, thought to be in his 50s, was found after midnight in Adelaide Street.

Crash Man Held

A man has been arrested following a four-car crash in west Belfast. It happened on the Andersonstown Road at about 10pm on Sunday. It is understood the man, 29, is being questioned as he was driving one of the vehicles involved, although no injuries were reported in the crash.

Gay Day Successful

City centre Belfast was transformed into a sea of colour and flamboyance at the weekend as thousands of people flocked to attend the annual Gay Pride parade. It was the culmination of a week-long celebration, which included lectures, exhibitions and performing arts events, and saw a parade of floats, bands and dancers make its way through the city centre, finishing up at a party in Custom House Square. The event is now in its 19th year and is the highlight of the Belfast Pride Festival, being held in support and celebration of the local lesbian and gay community.

Kestrel's Business 'Going Nuts'

A Co Armagh dried fruit and nut specialist is expanding - and going 'nuts' about the firm's future prospects. NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced expansion plans for Portadown company, Kestrel Foods. The plans include investing in new production facilities, management and extensive employee training, as well as the expansion of the company's product range to increase sales outside Northern Ireland. The Minister made the Invest Northern Ireland-backed announcement during a visit to Kestrel Foods' Carn premises, where it produces quality dried fruit, nuts and seeds snacks under the Forest Feast brand name for retailers in the UK, Republic of Ireland, mainland Europe, Middle and Far East. See full story on our business page: Business 'Going Nuts' At Kestrel

'Labour Of Love' At St Mark's

A £2m project to restore one of Co Down's oldest churches has been lauded as a 'labour of love'. St Mark's Church of Ireland in Newtownards underwent substantive stone restoration works, carried out by Cunningham Stone NI Ltd. Four years after the scheme commenced, locals can once again enjoy the beauty of the historic 1816 building. Funding for the works came from a number of different bodies; The Heritage Lottery Fund, an Environment and Heritage Service Award and the Representative Church Body Fabric Fund with the remaining monies being raised through fundraising efforts by parishioners. Rev Ken Smyth, who has been in the parish for 26 years, is pleased with the result. "The stonework had deteriorated to such an extent that if something wasn't done there would have been major problems."

(BMcC/KMcA)