Mobile phone directory suspended 

A controversial service which allows connection to millions of mobile phone numbers in an online directory has been suspended, just weeks after it was launched. The 118 800 service, which charges up to £1 to put people in touch with a mobile number from its list, went live in June. Since then it has been deluged with people trying to remove their details from the system.

The site had caused concerns about privacy after it emerged it had bought details of 15m mobile phone numbers from market researchers and list brokers.

Consumers who wanted their numbers removed from the list were told they needed to log on and apply to be ex-directory.