The UK's information commissioner has slammed banks and government departments for "horrifying" breaches of the country's data protection rules.

Richard Thomas named and shamed Barclays and NatWest, Orange and the Department of Health and the Foreign Office for terrible security lapses.

In his annual report he said that the roll call of banks, retailers, government departments, public bodies and other organisations which have admitted serious security lapses is "frankly horrifying".

He said that during the last financial year April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, it received nearly 24,000 enquiries and complaints about personal information problems.

Thomas told BBC radio that the breaches were inexcusable. "None of this is really rocket science. Security is fundamental."