A FIVE-FIGURE phone bill is having to be paid by Welwyn Hatfield Council after calls were made to the Indian subcontinent.

The phone network at the Weltech Centre in WGC was “phreaked” – or used by fraudsters – who racked up the costs making international calls in October last year.

Council worker Mike Storey told the committee: “Calls were made to the Indian subcontinent at our expense.

“Police were unable to find anybody to pursue and have said there is nothing they can do.”

He added the phone company still needed to be paid and work had been done to bring the bill down to a cost price of �22,700 rather than the retail value.