IN the past few years claiming compensation has become a booming industry.

No-win no-fee lawyers are pro-active in encouraging people to claim for all kinds of bumps and knocks which used to be considered part of every day life but are now "injuries" for which someone - and that's often the local authority - is to blame.

Some of these lawyers don't wait for people to come to them - they go out and canvass for clients.

The effect has been a massive upsurge in payouts which have traditionally been met by insurance companies.

Not surprisingly the insurance companies, still reeling from the after effects of September 11, have put up premiums and insisted that councils meet a larger percentage of the payouts as they try to balance the books.

In Lancashire County Council's case as well as claims for people slipping and tripping in the streets a total of £2million has had to be set aside to cover expected payouts in damages claims in connection with the police's Operation Nevada investigation into child abuse at county run facilities.

As a result of this combination of factors the council has been warned that they - and ultimately that means us the council taxpayers - could find themselves liable for the first £15million of claims from July.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is also trying balance the books after the cost of insurance claims went up by £750,000 to £1.75million in the past year.

County Council leader Hazel Harding says that they must not be seen as a soft touch and the authority has threatened to report anyone making fraudulent claims to the police.

This has to be the approach.

If public money is being paid out taxpayers need to be satisfied that everything possible is being done to discourage frivolous, or false claims. Only by rigorous investigation of every attempt to get compensation can the gravy train be brought to a halt.