The government is to convene three days of intensive discussions in a bid to kick start the Northern Ireland peace process.

Political parties are being invited to a three-day meeting to be held at Lancaster House in London later this month.

Senior ministers hope the summit will provide the momentum to kick-start the stalled talks in the hope that devolution can be restored to the province.

Prime minister Tony Blair and Irish taoiseach Bertie Ahern will both attend the meeting.

Lancaster House was the scene of talks in the period leading up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

It is not known whether the Ulster Unionists, who have walked out of the current review of the agreement, will attend the talks.

The move, however, has been welcomed by Sinn Fein, which had earlier called on both governments to examine ways to put talks back on the agenda.

"Let me make it clear that the Sinn Fein leadership is prepared to enter once again into new intense negotiations. We are prepared once again to do our best to make this process work," said Gerry Adams.

"We have no illusions about this. We are wedded totally to building justice and peace on this island.

"Mr Blair has set June as a timeframe. We will do our best to make that work but only the actions of the governments can determine how successful we will collectively be in the weeks ahead."