THE entire computer network at Exeter University  had to be closed down after a  it was hit by a virus attack.

Hundreds of computers  were taken off-line and lecturers were forced to give up  their hi-tech teaching and return to using chalk and blackboards.

It meant that there was no  access to email, internet and  internet-based systems, and  even the telephone network  was affected.

The computer virus, which  has not yet been identified,  struck on Monday. As soon as  it was spotted the university  network was shut down to  prevent it spreading.

As well as the entire Pennsylvania site, the St Luke’s  campus off Heavitree Road  was also affected.

Some parts of the university were being brought back  online yesterday but officials  were unable to say how long it  would be until normal services were restored.

University spokesman Stuart Franklin said there was no  doubt the university had been  hit by the virus deliberately  but he had no idea why it was  targeted.

 He said: “We were attacked  by a virus. It was a malicious  attack. It is the first time I  have known such an attack to  succeed.

 “Now we will be looking at  our defences because it is a  constant war and organisations much bigger than us  have been hit in the past.

“It is a constant and on-going war. The people who like  to do this sort of thing are  continually thinking up new,  nefarious ways to break in  and we have to continually  come up with ways to stop  them. We spotted it quite early on and closed down the  system to stop the virus  spreading.”

He added: “It affected everyone, staff and students  and for some it meant a return to the old fashioned  chalk and blackboard methods.”

Thousands of university  students and staff were sent a  message from staff working  for its IT department on Monday. It said: “We are experiencing some severe IT problems, and need to take the  unfortunate step to disconnect ourselves from the IT  network. This means that  from 2pm today, users will  have no access to email, internet-based systems as well  as VoIP telephony.

“At this point, we are unable to clarify when these  systems will return. Please  be assured we are treating  this with the utmost priority.  We apologise for the inevitable disruption that this  will cause.”

Mr Franklin said the police  had not been involved as no  “smoking gun” had been  found to identify where the  virus had come from. It could  prove to be a virus that was in  circulation on the internet  and had made its way onto  the university’s system.

 “We have yet to identify  what virus it is,” he said.

Among those affected were  staff working on the  university’s weekly student newspaper Exeposé.

News editor Adam  Walmesley said: “We are due  to be producing an edition  this week, with a Friday  deadline. The five office computers we have are all out of  action, and we aren’t even  allowed to turn them on. But  we are still hoping to come  out this week.”