Drivers across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are being urged to take extra care on the roads over the coming weeks, as deer enter their annual rutting season.

At this time of year, through October and into November, deer become much more active. During the rut, male deer are competing for females and can behave unpredictably, moving quickly between woodland, fields and roads.

That can create a serious hazard for motorists, particularly on rural roads and in areas where deer populations are known to be present, and there are many such areas in the North West