The Ulster Unionist Party will select two candidates for the Upper Bann constituency in next year's Northern Ireland Assembly election.

UUP leader Jon Burrows said the local association had changed its initial plan to choose one candidate.

Burrows denied personally intervening in the process or influencing others to do so.

A selection meeting is scheduled for June, with candidates to be ratified by the party leadership at the end of the process.

Former UUP leader Doug Beattie, who has represented Upper Bann since 2016, is among those who may seek selection.

Burrows described Beattie as an exceptional politician and said he had not fallen out with him.

The UUP leader said the selection would be fair and transparent and that he would not comment on tactical decisions about candidate numbers.