THE director of a Bolton fax bureau has defended his company after a national report highlighted increased complaints about "junk faxes".

Peter Hutcheon says if people don't want to receive faxes from his company, Planet Telecom Plc, they should contact the firm to be deleted from their mailing list.

His comments come after the report claimed a huge jump in complaints about junk faxes, from 62 to 899.

Two controversial fax polls issued by the firm - one on Myra Hindley and the other about the trial of nanny Louise Woodward - were mentioned in the report.

Recepients are invited to reply by fax to the polls, the cost of which can cost £1 a minute.

Yesterday Mr Hutcheon, of St John's Wood, Lostock, said: "It's a simple situation - if you don't want to receive these faxes send in your fax number to us and it can be removed from our list.

"These people complain about receiving them but they don't have to pay anything. It clearly states how much it costs to reply to our faxes. It's up to the individual to reply and we're not forcing anyone to respond."

Mr Hutcheon says the company receives between 15 and 20 letters each day asking for fax numbers to be removed from their directory.

Controversial faxed polls, conducted by the company - the third largest fax bureau in Britain - include campaigns about paedophilia and voluntary euthanasia.

But Mr Hutcheon says people have enough warning about the topic matter when they receive the faxes.

He added: "The headline says what it's all about and people don't have to read on if they don't want to.

"People who reply know their own mind and it's their choice. The bottom line is we're here to make money and if we do that's good. That's what we're here for."

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