OFFICES in Clydebank have been raided today on suspicion of being behind more than 200 million nuisance phone calls.

Some of the calls potentially put public safety at risk as they were made to Network Rail's Banavie Control Centre, said the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

The calls clogged up the line for drivers and pedestrians at unmanned level crossings when people were calling to check if it was safe to cross.

The ICO said the volume of suspected calls would be one of the highest the office has ever executed a search warrant over. Last year a company behind 146 million illegal calls about PPI was fined £350,000.

A search warrant was sparked by complaints from the public about automatic nuisance calls promoting boiler and window replacement schemes, often citing non-existent Scottish or UK government initiatives.

Computer equipment and documents were seized as the investigation continues. The maximum fine is £500,000.

ICO would not name the business.

Ken Macdonald, head of ICO Scotland, said: “These calls have caused millions of people disruption, annoyance and distress, but not only this, those made to a control centre charged with public safety may have endangered lives.

“Companies behind nuisance calls should know that people are sick of them, and when people complain to us, we will act.”

The ICO added that the public should only receive automated marketing calls if they have previously agreed an organisation can make these calls to them.