Endeavour Energy has warned  thieves on the coast and highlands they are risking death when trying to steal copper wire.

There has been an alarming increase in copper theft in the last few years, and in one case a would be thief suffered burns to 50% of his body, while trying to steal the precious metal from an Endeavour installation.

Thieves usually try and sell the copper to scrap metal merchants, who have been asked to work in co-operation with police to report any suspicious activity.

Endeavour's General Manager of Health and Safety David Neville says the company has gone to extraordinary measures to beef up security with better fencing, increased patrols and security cameras.

Mr Neville says copper cabling is now being branded with unique markers, which are not visible to the naked eye, and can be used to identify metal taken to scrap dealers, and offered for sale.