The Works has shut five stores due to a cyberattack impacting its Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems.

The discount retailer, which specialises in arts and crafts, said that all its “debit and credit card payment data is processed securely outside the group’s systems, via accredited third-party networks and, therefore, there is no risk that this payment data has been accessed improperly.”

However, The Works said that the incident has stopped new stock deliveries to some stores being suspended.

The retailer said a team of external cyber security experts have been appointed and are currently completing investigations and recovery work and said it did not expect the incident to have a "material adverse impact" on its financial position.

Cyberattacks have continued to impact the ability to operate of some retailers in the UK.

In December 2021, a cyberattack impacted 300 Spar stores in the North of England, which impacted all its systems including email.

“There has been some limited disruption to trading and business operations, including the closure of some stores due to till issues,” said a spokesperson from The Works. “Replenishment deliveries to the group’s stores were suspended temporarily and the normal delivery window for the fulfilment of online orders was extended, but store deliveries are expected to resume imminently and the normal online service levels are progressively being reintroduced.”

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