Hackers have made off with £1m from the UK taxman after penetrating government computer systems.

Police officers are now investigating the theft where hackers set up accounts by fraudulently using the names of account holders, thisismoney.co.uk reports.

The online heist involved an £18m computer system set up under former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The incident is the latest in a string of security breaches, involving sensitive data finding its way out of government departments.

Read the full story: Hackers steal £1m from the taxman