COMPENSATION payouts for trips and slips on a borough's streets have fallen by more than £1million following a clampdown on bogus claims.

Blackburn with Darwen Council estimates it will have spent £249,000 paying out for accidents caused by trips and slips by the end of this financial year.

That compares to more than £1.39 million given to claimants in 2000/01 when payout reached its peak.

Lancashire County Council also predicts that its claims will be begin to fall as 'pothole police' inspections and more claims being challenged in the courts -- both already happening in Blackburn -- begin to scare off 'no win, no fee' solicitors.

Today, council bosses revealed some of the bogus claims they have rooted out, including:

A man who injured himself playing football claiming the accident had actually occurred when he tripped over an uneven kerb;

A claim for tripping over uneven pavement when the claimant had actually fallen over their dog;

Drunken people claiming they were sober when they slipped up;

Walking into a lamp-post;

People changing names to make an additional claim.

More than £1.5million set aside to pay for claims will now be put back into Blackburn with Darwen Council's coffers, with £450,000 being spent on more highway maintenance and another £1.1million going into central reserves to help keep council tax down.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "We have invested more in highway maintenance and have an advanced monitoring system so we can respond to problems quickly.

"At first, our insurers were reluctant to take claims to court to defend them but close scrutiny of many of the claims showed that as a council, we shouldn't be paying out. We aren't a soft touch."

Lancashire County Council expects to have paid £6.4million by the end of this financial year and receives around 300 claims a month, up from 3,000 last year.

A spokesman said: "Claims have to be support by conclusive evidence which is genuine.

"We have round the clock inspections so that when faults are reported, the section can be cordoned off until repaired.

"The council isn't an easy touch, as people claiming easily are finding out."