CYBER criminals have hacked into the online accounts of thousands of National Lottery players in the latest security breach to hit UK consumers.

Camelot said it believes that "around 26,500 players' accounts were accessed", but fewer than 50 accounts have had activity take place since the hack.

The National Lottery operator said it became aware of "suspicious activity" on a number of players' online National Lottery accounts on Monday.

National Lottery player Nigel McKee, a tech operative from Randalstown in County Antrim, received an email from the National Lottery with the subject line "Important Player Message", which said: "We regret to inform you that your account has been subject to an unauthorised log-in.

"This may have resulted in any personal information held within your account being accessed."

Mr McKee, 21, said he was thinking of cancelling his account following the hack.

"It would make me more inclined to do it in store with cash. I'll probably just cancel it altogether," he said.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office said: "We are aware of this incident and we have launched an investigation."

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