The personal details of 111,000 gun owners have been hacked and leaked online by an animal rights organisation. The data breach affected customers of a leading website for buying and selling shotguns and rifles in the UK.

       Data obtained in the illegal hack was initially posted on the dark web, but has now been published on an anti-hunting blog, with supporters urged to contact the gun owners and challenge them as to whether they shoot animals.

       There are concerns that apart from anti-hunting activists making use of the information, the hack could also be a boon for criminal gangs who are seeking to obtain firearms.

       Police, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Information Commissioner's Office are all investigating the hack, with gun owners being urged to double-check their home security.

       Names, email addresses and phone numbers

       The stolen data includes the names, email addresses and phone numbers of customers who have used the Guntrader.uk website in recent years.

       While the information is not thought to include home addresses it does have coordinates that can be cross checked against online maps.

       Some of the information is quite old however, and is very likely to be out of date.

       Gun laws require firearms to be securely locked away and police forces usually check on security arrangements before firearms certificates are granted.

       Check home security

       The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has urged its members to be vigilant around home security and report any suspicious activity.

       In a statement on its website, it said: "Our advice to members would be to check home security and be extra vigilant. Make sure all firearms are appropriately locked away and make sure buildings are kept secure."

       It is not clear which organisation was behind the original hack, but the information eventually appeared on an anti-hunting website.

       A statement on the website read: "The grouse shooting season has already begun. The partridge shooting season starts on September the 1st.

       "The 6 week intensive culling of badgers usually begins early September. Many of these people will be on this database, please do contact as many as you can in your area and ask them if they are involved in shooting animals, the database contains plenty of contact details."

       The investigation into the breach is being led by the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit (SWRCCU).

       It is being assisted by the National Crime Agency which said at the time of the hack: "We are working closely with the organisation [Guntrader] and the SWRCCU to better understand the incident and manage any potential impact."