The Earl of Shaftesbury has said he would like to transfer his estate’s ownership of Lough Neagh “into a charity or community trust model, with rights of nature included”.

But Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, said the proposal “may take time”.

It comes as the Lough Neagh Report is due to come before the Stormont Executive again later next week.

Writing on the online platform Substack, the earl said he felt he was “an easy target and a useful excuse for failings in proper governance”, external.

The Shaftesbury Estate owns the bed of Lough Neagh and the earl has previously said he was willing to explore options.