Nearly 17 thousand people have now signed a petition started by a Kilkenny Councillor.

Andrew McGuinness is asking people to support his call on the Transport and Agriculture Ministers for the regulation of horse drawn vehicles and an outright ban on sulky racing in in the interests of animal and road safety.

The petition was launched on the 3rd of August and thousands have since put their names to it.

Councillor McGuinness says he was taken aback by the level of support it has received and is hoping people will continue to put their names to it.

He has also written to Minister Shane Ross and Minister Michael Creed seeking a meeting with them about it.

His hope is that the Ministers would agree to come to Kilkenny to discuss the matter, or, if that is not possible, that he would lead a delegation to Government Buildings to meet with them.