Catholics and Protestants welcomed the Nobel decision but some expressed concern that the honour might be premature. Mr Hume was praised for his consistency and commitment throughout his political career to ending the violence in Northern Ireland, while the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr Trimble, was acknowledged for showing courage in the face of adversity from unionists opposed to the Belfast Agreement.

A Protestant, Mr Paul Lynas (22), said both politicians deserved to win the Nobel Prize for their "unstinting" efforts for peace. The student at Queen's University admitted he was "a fan" of Mr Hume. While some Protestants might think Mr Trimble had let them down, Mr Lynas said the UUP leader "achieved the best he could in a very difficult situation". As First Minister he "is doing a good job representing everybody".

Mrs Irene Lee, a Protestant from Newtownabbey, said: "They have both worked hard for peace, and deserve the award."

Mr John McMaster, a Protestant from Bangor, said it was right that it was a joint award and paid tribute to Mr Hume's "unstinting" efforts for peace. "The fact that John Hume turned down the chance to stand for the Irish President election showed his commitment and determination to achieve peace, and it's nice that David Trimble, who has received a lot of flak over the past year from unionists, has also been acknowledged for his instrumental role in the peace process," he added.

While the honouring of Mr Hume was expected, Mr Tom Smith of Belfast said it was only fair that Mr Trimble had also been named. "To give the award to just one of them would have caused bedlam on both sides, so it was probably best that they split it," he said. But Mr Smith, a Catholic, added that he felt Mr Hume had contributed more to finding peace than Mr Trimble and, if the award had to go to just one person, then it was Mr Hume's.

Mr Eamon Nancarrow of Belfast, a Catholic, agreed with Mr Smith that it was better that politicians representing the two communities in the North had shared the award. "I think it's excellent and right that both of them got it, although I think John Hume deserves it more because he has been fighting for more than 30 years for civil rights in Northern Ireland.

"David Trimble has only recently come in to play after the Drumcree incident a few years ago. But I'm glad both communities got it because the agreement which people voted Yes was a vote for a sort of power-sharing, so it was right that it was a joint honour."

While nationalists said they were delighted Mr Hume was honoured, Ms Andrea McAnallen, a Protestant from Belfast, criticised Mr Trimble's honour. Ms McAnallen felt the Nobel judges had made a "totally religious" decision to include Mr Trimble so as not to upset both communities in Northern Ireland.

"I think it should have just gone to John Hume because he's done more than Trimble has. He's been committed to getting peace in Northern Ireland for the past 30 years, whereas Trimble only just started a few years ago. John Hume is important to the peace process. It's a nice gesture that he is at last being recognised for his efforts," she said.

But while the leaders deserved the prize, some people expressed concern that it might be premature, with a lot of the infrastructures outlined in the Belfast Agreement not yet in place, and the row over decommissioning unresolved.

Mr Dominic Grew (27), from Belfast, said: "It's good that they have both been honoured, but the key thing is if they can work together. Let's hope they can, and I just hope that the Nobel Peace Prize has not been premature, with a lot of things in the agreement still to be established."