Although the private sector has recorded a fast growth pace, Northern Ireland manufacturers are reporting that they are struggling.

Ulster Bank has said that businesses have performed well so far this year as job creation is well above the UK average; however, it also said that manufacturing is an area for concern, reports the BBC.

The Ulster Bank's latest Purchasing Managers' Index had shown that although there had been a rise in construction jobs in Northern Ireland, the same could not be said for the manufacturing sector.

Indeed, the closure of a Michelin tyre factory and the JTI Gallaher cigarette plant saw 1,600 people lose their jobs in the Ballymena area of the country.

The Irish News reported on this, saying that public figures joined a rally in Ballymena that was organised by trade union Unite to ask Stormont to support the Northern Irish manufacturing sector.

Among these figures in attendance were MPs and party leaders, and video messages were streamed to those rallying from various Northern Irish celebrities, including Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt.