Three men have been arrested in connection with a number of burglaries in the Midlands and South East.

The men were detained in Laois in the early hours of this morning, after a garda car was rammed at a checkpoint in Portlaoise.

They're being held in connection with burglaries and thefts in the Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny areas.

Four Gardaí received non-life threatening injuries during the incident and attended Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

A number of vehicles have since been recovered and investigations are continuing.