United Kingdom, May 15 -- Co-op only just avoided being locked out of its own computer systems in a recent cyber attack.

The supermarket retailer is recovering from the attack, which left store shelves bare and customer data compromised, and hackers claiming responsibility have said they tried to hit Co-op with ransomware.

However, they told the BBC: "Co-op's network never ever suffered ransomware.

"They yanked their own plug - tanking sales, burning logistics, and torching shareholder value."

The broadcaster said the hackers - who were using cyber crime service DragonForce - got in touch with a "long, offensive rant".

It's said they were angry the IT team took the computer services offline, which in turn halted the criminals' attack...