Northern Ireland's controversial local government reorganisation has suffered another blow, with two authorities embroiled in rows over the membership of committees designed to oversee the changes.

Castlereagh Council was last week accused of making ‘undemocratic' appointments to its local Statutory Transition Committee (STC).

STCs are the bodies overseeing national plans to reduce the number of councils from
26 to 11.

Under current plans, Belfast will assume parts of Lisburn and Castlereagh.

Castlereagh recently appointed two unionists to the Belfast Transition Committee and was immediately accused by the Alliance Party of undemocratic selection.

The decision will now be challenged by the Alliance Party, which wants to take up one of the seats.

Sinn Fein has already said it will challenge Lisburn Council's decision to appoint a DUP and SDLP representative to the BTC.

A DUP spokesman said legal advice was taken ahead of the decision by at least one of the authorities involved, ‘which supported the view taken by members of the council'.