A FOREIGN Office outpost in Sussex was hit by a "sophisticated cyber attack".

Wilton Park in Steyning was breached by hackers last month, The Sun has reported.

Wilton Park was founded in 1946 by Sir Heinz Koeppler - named after the Wilton Park estate in Buckinghamshire, which was used as a Prisoner of War camp during the Second World War.

It was initially used as a re-education centre which was attended by more than 4,000 Germans following the end of the war.

In the decades that followed it hosted a series of conferences involving diplomats, businesses, world leaders and more.

In 1991, it became an executive agency of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Operations now include supporting conflict prevention and resolution, defence and security, the global economy and human rights.

But a National Cyber Security Centre spokesman confirmed this week that there had been a cyber incident targeting the site shortly before Christmas.

He told The Sun: "We are aware of this incident and have been working closely with the FCDO and partners to support the investigation."

An FCDO added that "there is no evidence that data has been taken following a cyber incident at Wilton Park".