Ms.

It was described at the time as "almost like cutting off one of your limbs", by Nayna McIntosh, former executive committee member of M&S and the founder of Hope Fashion.

Earlier this year, M&S and the Co-Op were both hit by cybersecurity breaches that disrupted supply chains and customer orders, and accessed the data of shoppers.

And, he says, "I can't even imagine what the folks at Co-op and M&S have gone through."

A group of hackers who claimed responsibility for that attempt also claimed responsibility for the hacks on M&S and Co-op.

M&S, which experienced months of disruption to its online services, estimated in May that the attack would cut £300m from its profits.