A MAN found hundreds of letters from a bank dumped in his recycling box.

Michael Morse, of Sandown Avenue, Old Town, said letters from the merchant banking arm of the National Westminster Bank were left in his rubbish.

Mr Morse found the letters, from the Streamline business bank to lettings company Countrywide Residential, on February 12.

He was concerned about confidential name and address details contained on the letters so he called Nat West the next morning. However, he said he was ignored by the bank, until the Advertiser got involved and started making inquiries.

He said: "We are always being told about identity theft and making sure sensitive letters are shredded. Surely this information could be used by people wanting to commit fraud, and at best it seems they are being sloppy with their care of confidential material.

"I would have thought they would want to come round straight away and get the letters back into their safe care, or destroy them properly, but they didn't even call me back.

"It is not down to me to care about these people's details being revealed, but I am very glad I don't bank with them.

"After Nationwide getting fined for losing that laptop I would expect the banks to be even more cautious with people's details."

A Streamline spokeswoman said: "We sent the correspondence to our customer who has confirmed receipt. It was after this point that the correspondence was disposed of and clearly beyond our control and responsibility.

"However, we can say that the correspondence did not contain any secure details."

The bank thanked Mr Morse for bringing the matter to its attention.

Mr Morse confirmed he has now received some stamped addressed envelopes to return the letters in. He said he had also received a £20 voucher for Marks and Spencer by way of a thank you.

Charlotte Knight, the manager of Countrywide Residential's Swindon office, said: "We have more than 200 offices in the UK so these letters may not have come to this office. The paperwork in this office is all shredded."