WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine has joined a new Parliamentary group calling for action on unsolicited phone calls.

He said: “This is something that has increasingly come up through conversation with my constituents and the effects of these calls really are very disturbing for some people.”

In May 2011 the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) was empowered to fine companies up to £500,000 if they broke the rules on unsolicited texts and phone calls.

Last year it received more than 7,000 complaints – a 43 per cent increase on 2011.

The ICO used its powers for the first time last year and issued fines totalling over £250,000 to two illegal marketers, who distributed millions of spam texts.