A GROUP of international computer hackers have targeted a Rossendale animal sanctuary to try to gain access to the personal details of its supporters.

Bleakholt animal sanctuary, in Edenfield, has been forced to defend its new website against oversees web-criminals targeted the charity in an organised online attack.

At one stage the hackers, who were based in Texas and Brazil, were attacking Bleakholt’s website 270 times a day.

Neil Martin, manager at Bleakholt, said: “From the details of the attack you can see the serious nature and sophistication of the hackers.

“The actions of these people would have redirected visitors to our site to a site of a totally different nature altogether.”

The criminals used a remote file include, known as an RFI, which could have given them access to Bleakholt’s contacts if they had not been detected.

Computer experts regard RFI attacks as the most dangerous forms of hacking.

The Bleakholt site had to be taken down three times because of the attacks, which were all unsuccessful.

The site is almost fully restored and volunteer staff at the sanctuary are being assisted by their internet server to tackle the hackers.

A Lancashire Asian women’s charity was hacked by a similar method in July where the scammers accessed their contacts list and sent out a begging letter.