PENSIONERS on a low income have claimed more than £210,000 in extra benefits after an awareness campaign.

Workers Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Welfare Rights Unit calculated that hundreds of pensioner households across east Cleveland were missing out.

They worked out that although many pensioners were claiming help with their rent and/or council tax they still missing out on the Minimum Income Guarantee benefit.

A total of 785 households were contacted in a six-month period as being potentially entitled to the money.

There were replies from 586 - 75 per cent of the total - with 443 wishing to claim.

To meet that demand, the campaign was split into three phases. First they took on Redcar, Marske, Dormanstown and Saltburn, then Guisborough and the surrounding area, and finally the Eston/Middlesbrough corridor.

The effort was backed up by drop-in advice surgeries across the borough in libraries and housing offices.

Sarah Andrews, the council's welfare rights campaign officer, said: "The overwhelming response to this campaign has highlighted the importance of take-up work.

"In excess of £210,000 has been raised so far. This is over 33 per cent of the potential, a significant amount in such a short period of time. The Government's own campaign, which began in April 2000, achieved only about three per cent by December 2000 after a mailshot to two million people."

Local figures show there is still a gap, as 143 did not want to claim. A council spokes-man said some may be convinced they did not qualify. Others were afraid the extra income would affect their housing benefit.

To allay fears, the council's pension service is setting up regular surgeries, the first in Saltburn Library on Thursdays, from 2pm to 4pm.