Users of the internet TV technology Kodi have been hit by a piracy crackdown after a popular library for add-on services was unexpectedly shut down.

TVAddOns, which had more than a thousand unofficial “add-ons” – extensions to the Kodi technology that allowed users to stream video onto their TV – was taken down.

The website listed many plugins that allowed users to watch films, TV shows and sports, in breach of copyright rules.

Kodi, an open-source software used to run media streaming apps, is not illegal itself but many people are believed to use the technology to view pirated material on televisions or using TV boxes.