A PLYMOUTH law firm is helping a terminally ill cancer patient suing Britain's biggest bank for harassment after it pestered him for a loan he was paying off.

John Leather, 76, from Marazion, is bringing the action against Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) for bombarding him with phone calls 'at all hours of the day'.

In just over a year he received 63 calls including nine in just one 36-hour period.

He is claiming the bank's behaviour amounted to 'quasi-criminal conduct' and is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent further harassment. The case is expected to be heard at county court before Christmas.

Mr Leather has pancreatic cancer. His wife Jacqueline, 77, who was also hospitalised during the episode, and daughter Marian Parks, are also part of the legal action, being brought by Plymouth law firm Curtis Solicitors and barrister Neil Addison.

Mr Leather, a grandfather and dad-of-four, owed the bank about £30,000 in loans, interest and insurance, in 2004, but was paying this back £500 a month and had already reduced it to £18,000 when the harassment began.

Lawyers will argue the calls were designed to exert pressure and therefore cause stress and anxiety. They will also claim the bank's behaviour broke Office of Fair Trading Guidance relating to adequate notekeeping.

HBOS declined to comment about the legal case involving Mr Leather.