ACTION is being taken in Sedgefield and Darlington boroughs in an attempt to reduce the amount of money lost in benefit fraud.

Sedgefield and Darlington Borough Councils are joining other local authorities in County Durham and Job Centre Plus to raise awareness of the National Benefit Fraud Hotline.

Anyone can report a benefit cheat by ringing Freephone (0800) 854440. Every call will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

From Monday posters will be displayed on the back and the inside of Arriva and Stagecoach buses travelling throughout the region.

The message will be quite clear with the posters giving details of the hotline number for the public to report cases of suspected fraud.

Brian Allen, Sedgefield Borough Council's director of finance, said: "It is hoped that this increased publicity will result in more reports of suspected fraud cases which will be jointly investigated by local authority and Job Centre Plus staff.

"Sedgefield Borough Council is committed to improving its benefits service and the vast majority of benefit customers will have nothing to fear from this campaign.

"However, people who are prepared to submit fraudulent claims need to be aware that the borough council will take tough action and a number of prosecution proceedings have already been taken."

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council added: "As a council we are committed to tackling the issue of benefit fraud both locally and nationally.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with other local authorities and central Government on this campaign."

It is estimated that about £2bn is lost annually in benefit fraud through illegal claims across the country.

The campaign was launched this week by Sedgefield Borough councillors John Moran, lead member for supporting people, and Lucy Hovvels, lead member for the environment.