Betting hit by hackers

Hackers today sabotaged betting on the Cheltenham Festival paralysing the websites of at least two on-line bookmakers.

Totalbet and UKbetting saw their businesses attacked on what should have been one of their biggest days of the year.

The hackers are believed to be overseas-based criminals who say they will cease disrupting the sites in return for money.

The internet service providers were flooded with bogus emails today forcing the suspension of their websites in the run-up to the Champion Hurdle.

Both bookmakers are owned by UK Betting, who could expect to lose around £500,000 in turnover.

In an email to account holders, Totalbet said: "You may have had problems accessing our Sportsbook. Criminal elements have sought to deny customers access by flooding our service provider with bogus traffic."

The company also assured customers that their account funds and personal details were safe despite the hacking.