A cyber attack has forced some SPAR shops across the North East to close for a second day.
The retailer has been hit by a security breach, which has led to many SPAR branches having to close while the chain can sort the issue out and reopen
Around 330 SPAR stores in the north have had to close, the firm has said, due to a cyber attack on the website of the chain's main food distributer, James Hall and Co.
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The issue started yesterday, and meant SPAR stores were forced to close as they could not take card payments.
The website for Preston-based James Hall and Co, which sends goods to nearly 600 Spar shops throughout the north of England, crashed yesterday and still appears to be down this afternoon.
A Spar spokesperson said: "At James Hall we are currently aware of an online attack on our IT systems.
"It is currently impacting stores’ ability to process card payments, meaning that a number of SPAR stores are currently closed to shoppers or only taking cash payments. We apologise for the inconvenience this is causing our customers and we are working as quickly as possible to resolve the situation."
One SPAR customer said on social media: "Anyone know what happened to Spar shops today? Saw an attendant who said the whole till system has been down all day in all UK Spars. Very odd."
