Peter Robinson, the First Minister for Northern Ireland, has lost his seat in east Belfast in a shock upset.

Robinson - who had held the seat since 1979 - was beaten by Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long who represents the Alliance Party.

Supporters of the Democratic Unionist Party gasped in disbelief as the results were announced.

Robinson had stepped down as First Minister earlier this year amid a storm of sensational revelations about his wife Iris who quit her own seat in Strangford after admitting to an affair,

Sources had predicted a dip in support for Robinson because of his involvement in a controversial land deal but voters deserted him in droves with a 222.9 percent swing to the Alliance Party.