The owner of ScottishPower has seen earnings rise 11.9 per cent to 2.6 billion euros (£2.2 billion), on the back of heavy investment and higher tariffs.

Spanish-based Iberdrola was buoyed by strong earnings growth in the Scottish energy provider's renewables business.

Earnings jumped 30% at ScottishPower Renewables to £166 million in the three months to March as it benefited from favourable market conditions and increased wind energy production.

Its energy networks division saw earnings rise 5% to £216.6 million, while earnings dived 67% to £44 million in its liberalised power supply business as it was impacted by the mild winter weather.

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Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said its strong performance highlighted consumer demand for clean energy.

The acquisition of Sky last year boosted telecoms giant Comcast, as its revenues climbed 17.9% in the first quarter of 2019.

A number of successful film releases, including How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and Us, also helped the company in the three months to March, offsetting a decline in television revenues.

Sky saw revenues decline by 5% to 4.8 billion US dollars as it was impacted by currency changes. Sky's content revenue jumped 38% as it was aided by wholesaling of sports programming.

Brian L Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, said: "Comcast is off to a terrific start in 2019, financially, operationally and strategically."