THE watchdog responsible for the communications industry is not doing enough to combat the menace of silent calls - according to a pensioner whose life is blighted by them every day.

The accusation comes after one Ofcom boss told Hampshire pensioners they had no reason to be frightened.

Ofcom director of communic-ations Matt Peacock said: "If people remember nothing else I would like them to remember this - when you get these calls you are right to be irritated but there is no need to be frightened.

"It is a machine not a person, it shouldn't be frightening."

Earlier this year the Daily Echo joined forces with BBC Radio Solent's Silent calls Campaign which prompted more than 1,300 victims to come forward.

They called for an end to the use of predictive computer systems that allows telemarketing firms to automatically ring a selection of random numbers.

Speaking this morning, Mr Peacock said the calls were "a major cause of concern for a lot of people".

He said: "What we have discovered is that it is a very complex area to fix, there are different agencies involved.

"It's pretty hard to track down but we do take it very seriously."

"We are working with the telecomm companies.

"Our belief is that they need to be much more upfront about what it is."

Mr Peacock said Ofcom did not have the power to enforce caller identification.

"That rests on the shoulders of direct marketing companies themselves who could update their practice, or on the government which could amend the law.

"We would like to be able to do that. It would certainly help if it was obligatory to have caller ID," he said.

"It's more effective if people can come to us with the number, getting the number is a crucial part. Every time we get one of those we investigate it."

One victim, 82-year-old Dee Stone, was not impressed.

Mrs Stone, from Lee-on-the-Solent, said: "For some people it is frightening. I think these people know when I'm on my own and I jump up suddenly to get the phone.

"I do press 1471 to see who has called but there is no number given. I don't think Ofcom are doing anything about it. I'm afraid I don't have very much confidence in them as a watchdog.

"They say it's only computers but you don't know that when you jump up to get the phone."