BUSINESSES in the Okehampton area have been warned by police about letters which are being sent to firms demanding they pay a fee for a data protection service.

A group called Data Protection Agency Services has sent letters to businesses across the county ? the latest areas which appears to have been targeted is Okehampton and Exbourne.

The letter warns businesses if they do not pay £95 for the data protection service, they will be liable for a fine of up to £1,000.

Police are urging anyone who receives such a letter to write to the Office of Fair Trading, Fleetbank House, Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8JX, enclosing a copy of the literature and the date it was received and whether they are prepared to provide a statement giving permission for the Office of Fair Trading to progress their complaint.