People across Ceredigion and Powys have been urged to telephone the police rather than rely on online crime reports after the worldwide Microsoft outage has disrupted communications.

Dyfed-Powys Police said problems affecting Microsoft Outlook had interfered with its ability to receive reports submitted through its website and messages sent to its general contact centre email address.

The force advised anyone needing to report a non-urgent matter to call 101 or send a direct message to its official Facebook account while the disruption continues.

The emergency number, 999, remains the number to use where immediate police assistance is required.

A force spokesperson said the global issues had affected online reporting and email contact, adding that the alternative channels should be used until services were restored.

The disruption forms part of a widespread Microsoft service failure which has affected organisations and individuals around the world, including public services in Britain.

Outlook and Microsoft Teams are among the services hit, causing difficulties for organisations dependent on the technology for communications and day-to-day operations.

Other UK police forces have also warned that online forms may not be received, raising concerns that reports submitted electronically might not reach officers promptly.

Microsoft said on Friday that it was seeing progress in restoring affected systems, although the recovery was gradual and problems could continue for some users.

The company's public service-status page continued to report degraded Microsoft 365 services during the disruption.

It remains unclear how many reports or enquiries to Dyfed-Powys Police were affected, or when its online reporting arrangements will be fully restored.

Anyone who has already submitted a time-sensitive report online and is unsure whether it was received should consider contacting the force by telephone.

Residents are advised to check the latest police guidance before using online forms, and to dial 999 in an emergency.