The 43-year-old started getting calls for the Yorkshire Bank when the Scarbor-ough branch changed its number to one with an 0845 code. The six digits following the code are exactly the same as Mr Griffiths' home number.

He says customers are assuming they can get through to the branch in Scarborough direct, if they replace the 0845 number, with the Scarborough area code – 01723.

He said: "It started five months ago. They've had an 0845 number for the past three years but now they are getting rid of the branch numbers."

Mr Griffiths, who lives in Setterington Road, said he was aware of the bank having the same number as him but did not expect to get many calls.

He said: "I've had more Yorkshire Bank calls than anything else.

"My number is also similar to estate agents and a couple of taxi companies. It's quite annoying if you are in the middle of something.

"The phone calls are mainly between 9am and about 3pm. I have had a response from the bank and they are going to try and do something about their statements."

He added the confusion may have arisen because bank statements and other literature still had a fax number with a Scarborough code and people just assumed they could ring the call centre number with the Scarborough code instead of the 0845 code.

He said: "I've suggested they make it clear in the branch.

"I haven't had the taxi calls for a while. They are more during Friday and Saturday nights. I think after a while they will stop once it's publicised and everyone gets to know the number."

Mr Griffiths added that he had spoken to a marketing analyst from the head office at Yorkshire Bank and he had assured him he was looking into ways of making the correct number more prominent.

The Evening News approached the company for a comment but, at the time of going to press, had not received a reply.

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