A victim of credit card fraud who was told to pay £2,000 he did not spend will no longer have to foot the bill, after an inquiry by the Echo.

Mohammad Imran Faleemi, 40, never received the Mint credit card he applied for through the post, so he was stunned to receive a call from the company asking why he had not paid his bill.

He said: "I applied for a card but never received it, or the pin number. Then I got a call saying I had missed a payment and needed to pay."

Mr Faleemi, who runs three newsagents in Leigh and Southend called Big News, wrote to the Royal Bank of Scotland, which operates the Mint brand, and explained the situation.

But he was told he would have to pay the money.

The Echo contacted the bank, who, after reviewing the case, decided to write off the £2,000 credit card bill, meaning Mr Faleemi no longer has to pay.

Mr Faleemi, of New Road, Hadleigh, said: "I am happy. I never had the card and never used it so why the hell should I have to pay for it?

"I will be scared to use anything attached to my credit card now. I do not even keep it in my pocket anymore."

A Royal Bank of Scotland spokeswoman said the money had been spent during a two-week period, in the Hadleigh area, which was an unusual pattern for credit card fraudsters.

She said: "Following further investigation of Mr Faleemi's case, the bank has accepted the claim of fraud and will write off the balance."