Electric bike batteries used for Dublin Bikes are being recalled amid fears they could short circuit when charging.

It comes just a few months after the electric bikes were first introduced.

JCDecaux - which operates the public bike scheme for Dublin city - said it is also recalling batteries used in its other bike schemes in Lyon and Brussels.

It follows three incidents in Lyon where batteries overheated while being charged.

Batteries will be returned to users once the "necessary technical and firmware updates" are made to ensure their safety.

In a statement, the company said: "As user safety is our top priority, we have stopped distributing batteries to new subscribers and are asking e-dublinbikes users to stop using or recharging their batteries and we are recalling the 396 batteries currently rented in Dublin.

"JCDecaux apologises for the inconvenience to e-dublinbikes subscribers and assures them that our staff are doing everything possible to restore the e-dublinbikes service as quickly and efficiently as possible."

It adds that the bikes can continue being used in mechanical mode during the recall period.

Half of the Dublin Bikes fleet is being upgraded to the hybrid bike models, with the new models rolling out since the end of March.

Users of the public bikes service can sign up for a dedicated electrical option, where they're sent a personal portable battery to use with the bikes as needed.