Cold callers could be hit with fines of up to £500,000

Firms who bombard people with nuisance calls and texts could be fined up to £500,000 under new government proposals.

The law currently requires the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to prove a company caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress’ by their conduct.

But the Government wants to reduce this to causing ‘annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety’.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Being called day after day may not be ‘substantially distressing’, but that doesn’t make it acceptable.

"I want to make it easier for companies to face the consequences of ignoring the law and subjecting us to calls or texts we have said we don’t want."