20 December 2021
Spar stores were hit by a cyberattack
More than 300 Spar convenience stores across the north of England have been hit by a cyberattack, with some forced to close their doors, the company said.
The attack yesterday targeted James Hall & Company in Preston, Lancashire, which operates Spar's tills and IT systems.
Stores have not been able to take card payments with those remaining open taking cash only.
The National Cyber Security Centre and Lancashire Police are investigating.
A spokesman for the former said: "We are aware of an issue affecting Spar stores and are working with partners to fully understand the incident."
A Spar spokesman added: "We are working to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. "We apologise for the inconvenience this is causing our customers and we are working as quickly as possible to resolve the situation."
