British retailer Marks & Spencer has instructed approximately 200 agency staff at its Castle Donington distribution centre in central England to stay home on Monday as it continues to grapple with a cyber incident that began last week.

The retailer, one of the most recognisable names on Britain's high streets, stopped taking online orders on Friday as part of what it described as "proactive management" of the incident. The company's shares fell by 2 per cent on Monday, having already dropped as much as 8 per cent since the cyber issue was first disclosed on 22 April.

Agency workers, who typically support the warehouse during busier periods and constitute about 20 per cent of the distribution centre's workforce, were told not to come in, according to a person familiar with the situation. The company's permanent employees at the site have been instructed to report to work as normal.

"There is work for them to do," a source close to M&S told Sky News.

An M&S spokesperson said on Monday there was no further update following Friday's statement announcing the suspension of orders from its website and app. The retailer has indicated it is working with experts to resolve the issue.

Nathaniel Jones, vice president of security at cyber security group Darktrace, suggested the nature of the disruption pointed to a potential ransomware attack.

"Retailers are increasingly targeted because they combine valuable customer data with complex, interconnected systems," he said.

The disruption comes at a challenging time for the retailer, which generates approximately one-third of its clothing and home sales online. Investec analyst Kate Calvert warned of financial implications.

"There will be a short-term profit impact without a doubt," she said.

Retail executives described the cyberattack as "extensive" and indicated it could take the company some time to fully resolve its impact. M&S, which sells premium groceries alongside clothing and home products, is scheduled to publish its full-year results on 21 May.

The company has assured customers that its product range remains "available to browse online, and our stores remain open and ready to welcome and serve customers".

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