Nominations for next month’s assembly elections in the north have closed.
In total 276 candidates have registered to battle it out for 108 assembly seats up for grabs across 18 constituencies.
Nominations had to be received by The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland by last night.
The number of women putting themselves forward has doubled from the last outing in 2011 from 38 to 76.
The biggest battles are set to take place in East Belfast, South Belfast, North Belfast and West Tyrone where 18 candidates will slug it out in each area.
A total of 21 independent candidates will run across the north.
Several constituencies feature no independents while the constituency with the most, West Tyrone, will have five.
The constituencies with the least number of candidates include West Belfast, Mid Ulster and South Down which have all attracted just 12.
The DUP have put up the most candidates, with 44, while Sinn Féin are close behind with 39.
A resurgent UUP will put out 33 hopefuls with the SDLP pitching 24 and Alliance Party 23 runners.
The Traditional Unionist Voice and Green Party will both field 18 candidates with UKIP on 13 and the Conservative Party throwing 12 into the mix.
