COUNCILS across Worcestershire have made thousands of pounds selling on resident's private details from the electoral register, we can reveal.

Private businesses, estate agents, universities, e-commerce companies, consultancies and campaign groups are some of the bodies handed people's details.

A Worcester News Freedom of Information request has revealed how Worcestershire's six district councils have earned £37,000 by selling the register in just five years.

Pressure group Big Brother Watch has hit out at the findings, saying the practice can leave people "swamped by junk mail".

By Government law, councils are obliged to pass on the electoral register to third parties, although they must pay set fees in order to obtain it.

After years of controversy, in 2001 the High Court ruled that householders must have the right to be omitted from one version of the register available to the likes of companies, but around 50 per cent of people never bother.

A company which offers forklift truck training, the estate agent Connells and RGS Worcester were among those to buy the register from the city council, as well as an unidentified private individual.

A huge music festival firm called 'GlobalGathering' bought the register in Wychavon, with other notable buyers including the 38 Degrees activist group, the British Library and election experts Rawlings & Thrasher.

Birmingham University wanted the details of everyone on the register in Redditch, while another notable buyer was 'Datatrans' - a huge Swiss-based e-commerce firm after private details of residents in the Wyre Forest.

All six councils also handed the 'full register' to a long list of credit reference agencies.

Campaigners say they want a tighter clampdown on the system, and are calling for the laws to be revised to stop people's details being sold on.

Daniel Nesbitt, from Big Brother Watch said "The edited electoral register is waste of everyone's time.

"It leaves residents swamped by junk mail, and councils barely raise anything from selling it on.

"It’s time it was abolished - citizens should not have to worry about where their personal information will end up when they register to vote."

But a spokesman for Worcester City Council said the authority "acts in accordance with the instruction set out by the Electoral Commission".

It charges £21.50 for every 1,000 names and made £5,643 from sales in the last five financial years.

Ian Miller, electoral registration officer at Wyre Forest District Council, said: "We supply and sell the electoral register in accordance with the legislation."

Claire Felton, head of legal services for district councils in Redditch and Bromsgrove, added: "It’s not a matter for councils to decide - under the regulations set by parliament councils are required to release the open or edited register to any person, company, or organisation that pays the statutory fee."

Jack Hegarty, electoral registration officer for both Malvern and Wychavon’s district councils, said: “We are obliged by law to make the open register available to anyone who wants to buy it and cannot refuse to do so.

“However, the number of requests are very low, as in both Malvern Hills and Wychavon more than half of people have opted out of appearing on the open register, meaning it is of limited value.”