Citizens Advice Scotland has said new rules will help to hold companies to account

A charity has welcomed a crackdown on nuisance calls.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has praised new regulation which makes company directors personally liable if their company breaks the law on nuisance calls.

CAS ran a campaign last year on this issue after research found that Scotland gets more nuisance calls than any other part of the UK, with Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen most affected.

New rules mean the UK's data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), can target the company director and not just fine the firm.

It is hoped it will stop company bosses declaring bankruptcy and setting up again under a different name when they are caught for nuisance calls.

CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “Nuisance calls cause inconvenience and distress, and people should not have to put up with them, yet we know that Scots get more of these calls than other parts of the UK.

“We have campaigned to raise awareness of this issue and have called for action to protect consumers, so we are pleased to see this new measure. Consumers deserve protection against nuisance calls and it is right that those who are responsible for such calls have no place to hide.”