A FORMER shop worker has told how she was bombarded with obscene mail and telephone calls after her personal details were maliciously posted on a pornographic Internet site.

Joan Young has received pornographic magazines, catalogues and computer discs, as well as countless telephone calls and three obscene letters, at her Darlington home in the past three days.

At first, the 49-year-old former electrical shop worker, who describes herself as "a decent woman", was shocked and confused. But her confusion turned to anger after she was able to glean some information from callers.

It is believed her name, age, address and home and mobile telephone numbers were posted on a website for swingers, couples who take part in wife swapping and group sex, along with false details about her sex life.

An e-mail address is also believed to be in operation for people to get in touch with Mrs Young - but she has no computer.

More phone calls bombarded her answer machines yesterday, even after she had called in the police.

Officers from Darlington are investigating the incident, along with specialist Internet crime investigators at police headquarters in Durham.

Mrs Young said: "I have been a victim of a malicious, sick joke.

"I've had porn material sent through the post, discs, pictures. You name it, I've had it. People are phoning, wanting to meet me because they think I'm some sort of sex object.

"It's disgusting. You've only got to read the letters to know what's been on the site."

The 49-year-old is now hoping to lobby for a change in the law to control pornography on the Internet.

"I want to do whatever I can, no matter how many months it takes, until it gets something done."

Mrs Young said she has not been nasty to callers because she believes they do not realise it is a prank.

"I still think they are sad for surfing those pages, but each to their own," she said.

The Northern Echo tried to contact two of Mrs Young's callers last night, but our messages were not returned