FIVE people are being investigated for benefit fraud after police and Government officials targeted possible benefit cheats and bogus workers in the building trade.

A 24-year-old man was arrested for driving while disqualified and for having no insurance when the team swooped in the east Cleveland area.

Cleveland Police and DSS officials visited Skippers Lane, South Bank, and the Bolckow Road industrial estate, Grangetown.

A total of 34 light to medium-sized vans and trucks were stopped and checked. Three were found to have defective tyres, windscreens and lights.

PC Nick Edgar, from South Bank, said: "The police and Benefits Agency are fed up with people who rip off the elderly by carrying out unnecessary building work and those who abuse the benefits system.