Angling Direct - the fishing equipment retailer - has come under cyber-attack with its websites being shut down.

The retailer, which has seen bumper sales during the Covid crisis, detected 'unauthorised activity' on Friday. An investigation by cyber security experts is underway.

Visitors to the company's website today are met with a security message warning that 'attackers might be attempting to steal your information'.

The firm's social media accounts also appear to have been compromised.

The Angling Direct twitter feed had a post which stated: "Our site has been sold to MindGeek the founders of Pornhub. Your data has already been transferred and PornHub premium will be available for your account for a period of one year."

Another, complete with spelling error, stated: "PRESS ENQUIRES TO THE SAME INBOX!!!!!"

The company is understood to have informed the Information Commissioner's Office which logs and investigates data breaches.

According to an article in Retail Gazette, the company says it does not hold customer financial data as website transactions are handled by third parties.

Revenues for Angling Direct rose 19.4 percent to £38.4 million in the six months to July 31, after jumps of 54 per cent and 3.1 percent respectively in Q1 and Q2.

The firm said smaller growth in the second quarter was only down to performance being compared to unprecedented demand in the year prior following the unlocking of initial coronavirus restrictions.