Northern Ireland is going to the polls for the second time in a year after the power-sharing government in Belfast collapsed.

Amid the biggest crisis to hit the peace process in a decade, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire announced that fresh elections will take place on March 2.

He called the poll minutes after a deadline elapsed that effectively brought to an end ten years of co-operation between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party.

The clock started ticking last Monday following the dramatic resignation of Sinn Fein veteran Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister.

Since then the two parties have failed to find a way through the deadlock, leaving Mr Brokenshire legally obliged to order a new set of elections.

He did so amid growing fears a bitter election campaign will make it even harder for the parties to agree a new power-sharing administration.

In a press conference called just after the deadline expired he said that he was “concerned about the impact of a divisive election campaign”.

He called on all parties to "think about the future of Northern Ireland” over the next two months.

He urged them to remain "open to dialogue", adding: "No-one should underestimate the challenge faced to the political institutions here in Northern Ireland and what is at stake."

Earlier Sinn Fein had confirmed that they would not nominate an alternative deputy First Minister.

The DUP hit back that they would not allow Sinn Fein to "dictate" the leader of their party.

The republicans have demanded that DUP leader Arlene Foster stand down to facilitate an inquiry into the 'cash for ash' scandal, which could cost Northern Irish taxpayers about £490 million.

Under a government scheme businesses and individuals were paid to switch to more environmentally-friendly methods of heating.

But there was no cap on the subsidy, and for every £1 a business spent it could get back £1.60.

Mrs Foster has come under heavy criticism because she was the minister in charge when the policy was introduced.

She has also faced questions over when she was informed of the flaw in the project.

But the two parties are also at loggerheads over other issues, including funding for the Irish language and the legacy of the Troubles.

Fears have also been expressed that the elections could delay Prime Minister Theresa May's plans to kickstart the UK's exit talks with the EU.

Mrs May has said that she will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty by the end of March at the latest.

UK minister are nervously awaiting a ruling form the Supreme Court on whether or nor MPs have to have a vote before the talks can start.

But the judges are also examining whether politicians in Stormont, Cardiff Bay and Holyrood would also have to have their say.

The Northern Irish case rests of legalisation brought in around the Good Friday Agreement, which incorporated EU law.

Elections on March 2 could allow more time for the Northern Irish parties to agree a power-sharing arrangement before Mrs May's deadline.

The elections will have one crucial difference to last year - it will see 90 MLAs returned, down from 108, under legislation already in place.