A NEW Government crackdown on companies behind unwanted cold calls has been welcomed by Keighley MP Kris Hopkins.

As a result of legal changes announced last Wednesday, (February 25) from April 6 firms will be more at risk of facing fines of up to £500,000 if they are found to have used cold calls and nuisance texts to gain business.

Under current laws, companies can only face sanction if the Information Commissioner’s Office can prove that unwanted calls and texts have caused "substantial damage or substantial distress."

Mr Hopkins, who is also the Local Government Minister, said: “The problem of cold calling is one that a great many of my Keighley and Ilkley constituents have raised with me, particularly older people living on their own who tend to be at home during the day.

“And it has become clear that something needed to be done, on top of the restrictions that already exist.

“Last year, more than 175,000 complaints were made to the Information Commissioner’s Office about nuisance calls and text messages. The companies behind these unwanted approaches must be taken on."