Irish energy firm ESB has issued a warning to metal thieves who stole nine spans of overhead line in Kilkenny and Ballyhale on Wednesday.

Around 3.6km of copper was stolen and ESB said the thieves were putting their own lives at risk.

The firm said: "At least three serious injuries and one fatality have been linked to metal theft from ESB Networks in recent years. These metal thieves are also endangering the lives of members of the public by leaving potentially unsafe live network after them.

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"ESB Networks is calling on members of the public, and in particular those in the farming community with overhead power lines on their land, to be vigilant for suspicious activity and to come forward with information."

(CD/MH)