David Trimble has warned that Ulster Unionists will quit the Stormont executive within three months unless Sinn Fein delivers real progress on IRA decommissioning and turns its back on violence.

The Ulster Unionist leader's warning came at a crunch meeting of his party's ruling council on Saturday at which a compromise deal was agreed.

Trimble warned that he would no longer remain in government unless the assurances he sought were met by the end of the year.

His comments were an 11th hour bid to halt attempts by hardline unionists who are demanding he walks out of the power-sharing administration.

Trimble said his party should resist the temptation to quit immediately - calling instead for three months of cross-party talks before a final decision is taken.

But the meeting also heard from hardline unionist Jeffrey Donaldson who put forward a motion demanding immediate action against Sinn Fein.

Donaldson, who has the support of a large number of unionists, said the UUP should quit Stormont unless the prime minister suspended Sinn Fein from the executive.

Whilst the UUP's ruling council backed Trimble's compromise deal, hardliners warned that he would face a challenge to his leadership if the matter was not satisfactorily resolved.

Any challenge would be likely to come from Donaldson who has become a totem poll for sceptical unionists.