A TECHNOLOGY company that develops products to help screen unwanted marketing calls is in the running for a top award.

UK Data IT, based at Shrub Hill, in Worcester, has been selected as one of ten regional finalists in the Parcelforce World-wide Small Business Awards.

The company develops data screening and suppression systems for telemarketers.

"We are delighted to have been chosen from what was said to be a very tough selection process," said John Glacken, managing director, who started the company in 2000.

"We are hopeful of getting through to the national finals and, ultimately, taking home an award."

More than 4,500 UK businesses have entered the Parcelforce Worldwide Small Business Awards this year.

The regional winners are due to be announced on Sunday, September 7, with the national final due to take place on Wednesday, October 22, in London.

UK Data IT's products include BereavementGard, which screens and blocks telemarketing calls to the recently bereaved, and SilentcallGard, which stops the public receiving silent calls produced by dialling equipment.

This equipment automatically dials numbers and only connects to an operator once the line is answered, which sometimes results in a silence. Both products won awards at the International Direct Marketing Fair (IDMF), in February this year.

UK Data IT is an independent company which provides automated data compliance solutions for the direct marketing and call centre industry.

Many of its senior employees take an active advisory role on implementing legislative change concerning data protection.