'COMMIT fraud and you'll pay up' is the hard-hitting message from South Ribble Borough Council it reinforces the authority's commitment to stamp out benefit fiddles.

It comes as experts predict Housing and Council Tax Benefit cheats may be costing the Leyland-based council more than £900,000 a year.

In a bid to catch the culprits, councillors are asking people to call the confidential fraud hotline -- 01772 615254 -- if they suspect someone of claiming state benefits they might not be entitled to receive.

Coun Mark Alcock, cabinet member with responsibility for corporate and support services, said: "All local authorities and public bodies need to look after public funds and the interests of the majority of honest taxpayers.

"As a council, we must clearly demonstrate that we will not tolerate fraud and corruption, in whatever form."

For the past four years South Ribble Borough Council has had an anti-fraud strategy with the aim of combating benefit cheats.

But now councillors are set to revise the plan in a bid to close the net and has produced a new document entitled 'Combating Benefit Fraud' which focuses on Housing and Council Tax.

The main strategies include fraud by people renting from housing associations, fraud in the commercial rented sector, council tax benefit fraud by owner-occupiers, housing and council tax benefit fraud linked to income support, job seekers allowance and other state benefits.

The policy also applies to council employees, partners, contractors and councillors to ensure concerns are properly raised and addressed, to deter serious malpractice, protect the council's reputation and demonstrate accountability and openness with the council.