The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) confirmed on Thursday that it is responding to a “significant and ongoing cyber attack” affecting its contact centre and internal systems.

“Whilst core regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services continue, communication into and across the organisation is significantly impacted,” said SEPA.

David Pirie, SEPA Executive Director, said: “At one minute past midnight on Christmas Eve, SEPA systems were subject to a significant and ongoing cyber attack. 

“The attack is impacting our contact centre, internal systems, processes and internal communications.

“We immediately enacted our robust business continuity arrangements, with our core regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services adapting and continuing to operate.

“Our Emergency Management Team is working with Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre to respond to what appears to be complex and sophisticated criminality.

“Whilst we continue to liaise closely with resilience partners, we’re asking for those who wish to contact us right now  to do so through our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter (@ScottishEPA).”