St Peter's Cathedral in West Belfast has had to replace 24 candle lighters in the past week after they were stolen. The cathedral said CCTV footage shows young boys taking the lighters, which are used to light candles inside the building.

The cathedral has appealed to parents and guardians to speak to their children and remind them not to take the lighters. In a statement, the cathedral said it does not want to have to chain the lighters to the candelabras.

The statement also said the lighters are there for everyone to use safely and are not toys. It thanked the community for understanding and for helping to look after the cathedral.

The lighters are typically kept near the candelabras for visitors to light votive candles. The thefts have occurred over the course of a single week, according to the cathedral.