An old lady digging for scrap metal brought down internet services to two countries after slicing through an important fibre-optic cable.

Georgian police arrested the 75-year-old pensioner after she single-handedly cut off Internet connections in Georgia and neighbouring Armenia, the interior ministry said.

The woman hacked into the cable which runs through Georgia to Armenia, forcing internet users in both countries offline.

“She found the cable while collecting scrap metal and cut it with a view to stealing it,” Georgian interior ministry spokesman Zura Gvenetadze said.

She was arrested in the village of Ksani, north of capital Tbilisi, and has been charged with damaging property.

The pensioner could face up to three years in prison if convicted.