CIVIC chiefs say it is “highly unlikely” that sports centre users had their bank details and other personal data stolen by computer hackers.

A major investigation was launched after someone gained unauthorised access to New Forest District Council's website and targeted a new online booking system used by health and leisure customers.

More than 1,400 people who had booked sessions online were alerted by the authority.

As reported in the Daily Echo, they were warned that their names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses could have been viewed by the hackers.

Potential victims of the security breach included 240 people who also paid online. They were told that their credit and debit card details might have fallen into the wrong hands.

However the investigation has found no evidence that any personal data was accessed.

The council says its website security system has since been improved in a bid to prevent any repetition of the incident.

But the authority has notified the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), an independent body set up to safeguard the public by enforcing data protection standards.