A store which specialises in home entertainment equipment has apologised to customers affected by a computer virus circulated in a mailshot last weekend.

Richer Sounds, which has a North-East branch in Newcastle, says it has now put measures in place to stop the cyber infection.

Hundreds of customers on the company's mailing list received an email with the title "Japanese lass, sexy pictures", which contained a virus attachment.

The company says the virus was introduced maliciously into its systems by a third party and was automatically forwarded to all customers on its mailing list.

Anyone who has received the virus email is advised to delete it and should not forward it to anyone else.

The central email address affected by the virus has now been switched off, so no further mails can be sent.

An investigation has concluded that no personal details have been disclosed to anybody else as a result of the virus attack and the website can still be used for purchases or browsing.

A spokesman for the company said: "We take web site security very seriously.

"The terms on which we operate the web site are set out on the site, we have very robust security systems in place, which are reviewed regularly. "Consequently whilst we cannot accept any liability for the recent problem, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience and upset that it may have caused."

For any information, contact the Richer Sounds customer service department on 08700 110558 or 0870 900 1000.