PlayStation offline after 'attack by hackers'

Anyone trying to connect to the PlayStation Network over the past six days would have had some difficulty.

It has been offline for that long following what Sony says was an attack by hackers.

The network is used by owners of PS3 and PlayStation Portable machines to download games, films and music, as well as to play online with friends.

The BBC's technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones explains why it has been down for so long.