A group of thieves have been jailed for stealing more than £12,000 worth of cable from a railway line during a series of "incredibly dangerous" heists.

Twin brothers Christopher and Michael Nugent and a third man, Martin Ward, were all caged for their part in the reckless stunts in Charfield in August 2017.

The trio were caught after a train worker noticed damage and a loss of cable on the tracks and installed a motion censor camera to monitor the area.

The device then sent out an alert three days later and officers rushed to the scene - catching the brothers in the act.

A vehicle registered to Ward was also found near the railway line and all three were arrested on suspicion of theft.

Mobile phone records then placed the trio at the location at the estimated time of the incidents.

All three pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court on November 1 and have now been jailed.

Christopher Nugent, 23, of Clapton Walk, Bristol, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

Michael Nugent, 23, of Atwood Drive, Bristol, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Martin Ward, of Long Cross, Bristol, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.

Mike Gallop, route director of Network Rail Western said: "We welcome the decision to jail the three males who stole thousands of pounds worth of cable from the railway in Bristol.

"Cable theft results in significant delays and cancellations across the network and these penalties show just how seriously the rail industry and the British Transport Police take this crime.

"Any attempt to steal cable from the railway is not only a criminal offence but is also incredibly dangerous.

"Anyone trespassing on the railway risks serious injury - or worse."

Detective Constable Dan Murdoch, of British Transport Police, added: "This was a determined theft which cost the railway an estimated £12,700 in loss, delays and damages and also had the potential to endanger the lives of workers and passengers."