A war on fraud has been declared by councillors fed up with benefits cheats.

Lewes District Councillors agreed a crackdown on housing and council tax benefit fraud.

The strategy includes comparing data with the records of other local authorities and Government agencies.

Officers will also carry out four-monthly checks of all benefits records against other state welfare benefits.

Members of the public will also be encouraged to shop suspected cheats by calling the council's fraud hotline.

More than 200 cases of suspected benefit fraud have been investigated in the district this financial year.

Two successful prosecutions have recently been carried out while 13 offenders have been cautioned and another eight fined.

Since April, the council has reclaimed £70,000.

The hotline number is 01273 484067. People can also email fraud.section@lewes.gov.uk