One of Northern Ireland's bitterest Orange Order parading disputes has been resolved.
In the summer of 2013 the PSNI prevented Orange Order members from marching past nationalist homes in the Ardoyne area after their annual 12 July parade - and serious rioting ensued.
In protest, bandsmen established a makeshift camp at Twadell Avenue and it has cost the PSNI more than £20m to police the area since.
A deal to resolve the dispute collapsed this summer when one of the three lodges - Ballysillan Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) 1891 - refused to back a proposed resolution.
With 12 July subsequently passing off without major incident, hopes remained high that negotiations could be resurrected and a solution found.
Those hopes proved well founded last night with the announcement that a deal involving the main residents group in the area - the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association (Cara) - and all three lodges had been reached.
A statement from the two men mediating - Reverend Harold Good and businessman Jim Roddy - said: "We are pleased to announce that a local agreement has been reached to bring an end to the difficulties surrounding parades and protests in the Twaddell/Crumlin Road area.
"The agreement has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents' Association."
Fr Gary Donegan, the rector of Holy Cross Parish in Ardoyne who has been involved in efforts to resolve the parading dispute, said he welcomed the deal and he said he thought the majority of people would be in favour of it.
Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said: "The Police Service (PSNI) welcomes the news of a local agreement in relation to the challenges surrounding parades and protests at Twaddell/Crumlin Road in North Belfast.
"I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time.
"We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long-term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast," he added.
