THE investigation into a Clydebank firm allegedly behind more than 200 million illegal nuisance calls is continuing, it has been confirmed.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) searched a business property in the town in March 2018 and said some of the calls could have put lives at risk by clogging up the line for drivers and pedestrians at unmanned level rail crossings.

Public complaints about the calls promoting boiler and window replacement schemes - often linked to non-existent Scottish or UK Government programmes - prompted an investigation by the ICO.

Ten months on, the ICO said their work was ongoing before they could make decisions about any enforcement action.

The Clydebank firm has never been confirmed by the ICO.

A previous ICO fine was leveled against a business for making 146 million calls, making the Clydebank firm one of the highest volumes for which the agency has ever executed a search warrant.

An ICO spokeswoman said: “This is a significant investigation into a number of companies and individuals instigating and / or making massive volumes of nuisance calls.

"The action taken by the ICO in March 2018 disrupted the operation of the network, and we expect to conclude our investigation within the next couple of months. Decisions on the possibility of formal enforcement action will be taken after the investigation concludes.”

The highest possible fine is £500,000 for breaching the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

Some of the Clydebank calls were to Network Rail's Banavie Control Centre where the public can call to check if it's safe to cross the rails.

Clydebank Post:

Ken Macdonald, head of ICO Scotland, said last year: “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."

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.