The extent of the financial challenge facing Northern Ireland's councils has been laid bare, after the province's local government minister revealed the sector's total debt had exceeded £400m.

Stormont minister, Alex Attwood, revealed on 25 November that the country's local government debt stood at £401,094,174. Newtonabbey led the debt league table with more than £46m owed, while North Down (£28.5m), Armagh (£27.6m) and Belfast City Council (£26m) also face large repayment bills.