A group of Algerian hackers who attempted to attack the website of an Israeli tourist attraction found themselves interfering with that of a British castle more used to hosting teddy bears’ picnics.

The target was Belvoir Fortress near the Israeli city of Tiberias. The fortress, constructed by crusaders in the 11th century, was the site of historic battles between Christians, Muslims and Jews.

It has little but a name in common with Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, which was built on the site of a Norman castle and used by the Royalists during the English Civil War.

However the cyber attackers, a group by the name of Dz-SeC, evidently did not realise this.

They hijacked the Belvoir Castle website and posted on its home page an image of the Algerian flag with Arabic words condemning Israel.

After the hack was identified, a member of Dz-SeC wrote on the castle website: "The cause of this hack is Israel's presence.”

They added: “Internet law does not protect the ignorant. Thank you to all the pirates of Algeria."

A spokeswoman for the castle said: "We've nothing to do with the Middle-East. I just help to organise the teddy bears' picnic."

A simple web search for Belvoir Fortress brings up a Wikipedia article cautioning browsers of the name clash: It says: “This article is about the Crusader castle in Israel. For the castle and stately home in Leicestershire, UK, see Belvoir Castle.”

In January 2010 pro-Palestinian hackers broke into the JC website and posted a Palestinian flag with an antisemitic message.