Complaints from consumers to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) from consumers over handling of personal data shot up by a third from 2013 to 2014, it has been revealed.

There were 1150 complaints in 2014, compared to just 886 the year before.

The figures have been obtained by the international law firm Pinsent Masons through a freedom of information request. It says that over a five year period complaints about data privacy have rocketed by 64%.

Luke Scanlon, technology lawyer at the firm, said: "As consumers are increasingly finding themselves left exposed as a result of cyber attacks, concern is clearly growing. The chances are that they wouldn’t be making these complaints without having been directly impacted in some way."