Britain's growing CCTV network could be a target for hacking attacks, a security watchdog has warned following a report into defence against cyber crime.

Surveillance camera commissioner Tony Porter flagged up the possible risk of intrusion on the public by "individual and state actors".

He pointed to a major cyber incident in Washington DC in January last year where more than 100 cameras were infected with ransomware.

Mr Porter said: "The risk potential for intrusion on citizens has significantly increased both by lawful operators of surveillance camera systems and those individual or state actors who seek to hack into systems.

"Cyber security has moved to the top of the security agenda."