Police are investigating a data breach at the large UK software company Sage.

It is understood that the the personal details of employees at 280 UK businesses may have been compromised.

Sage, based in Newcastle, says it is investigating the "unauthorised access" of data by someone using an "internal" company computer login.

The information was accessed at some point over the past few weeks, but it is unclear whether it was stolen from the FTSE-listed firm, or merely viewed.

The company, which provides business software for accounting and payroll services to firms across 23 countries, says it is taking the breach extremely seriously.

The police are investigating and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), responsible for the enforcement of the Data Protection Act 1998, has been informed.

Read more at BBC.