Simon Bucks, associate editor for Sky News, has apologised on Sky’s Editors’ Blog to users who have had their access to the site’s message boards blocked by spammers.

“It’s an anti-spamming device but it worked in a way we hadn’t expected,” Bucks wrote in a post on Tuesday.

“It was a mistake on our part… Contrary to some views, we do care about the forums and we invest a lot in making them run properly.”

Bucks defended the ‘light moderation’ approach adopted by the site – e.g. moderating comments after they have appeared – saying it produces more of ‘a free-flowing conversation, as long as you keep to the rules.’