Northern Ireland's Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Jim Wells, has resigned from his post.

Mr Wells, whose resignation will take effect on May 11, said he made the decision due to his wife's ill health. In recent months, she has suffered two strokes and undergone major heart surgery.

While she has shown ‘encouraging improvement', she will require ‘long-term specialised care', he said.

"I had continued to maintain my ministry as I expected Grace's health would have shown greater improvement before now. However, as she now faces further challenges I have come to the point where I am no longer able to continue my ministerial duties and give Grace the attention she deserves.

"Having been my chief supporter throughout my career my first duty will always be to look after Grace and my family," Mr Wells, who is a candidate for the DUP in the constituency of South Down, said.

However, it had recently been suggested that Mr Wells' position had become untenable due to comments he made, which suggested that the children of same-sex couples were more likely to be neglected or abused. He later apolgised for these remarks, which he accepted were ‘factually inaccurate'.

"At no time did I set out to hurt or offend anyone and it has upset me greatly that the comments made have caused distress to some within our community," he commented.

Meanwhile, the PSNI are also investigating an incident involving Mr Wells while canvassing in County Down. It is alleged that while canvassing at a lesbian couple's house, he was critical of their lifestyle, upsetting one of the women.

While Mr Wells had tried to return twice to the house to apologise, the couple would not accept his apology.

Responding to his resignation, Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader, Peter Robinson, said that Mr Wells was ‘leading change within the department and was putting in place new policies that were making our health service better'.

"I would have wanted it to be otherwise but I respect Jim's decision. However, he is right to put his family first and I will fully support his decision," he added.