A tough new crackdown is being launched to catch benefit cheats in Worthing.

The borough council has discovered or prevented more than £750,000 of housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud in the last financial year.

The amount exceeds the target set by the Department of Social Security by more than £400,000.

Council officers say the amount is far too high and are now considering taking tougher action by joining forces with local solicitors.

Prosecution for fraud has until now been used as a last resort against persistent offenders or extreme offenders.

But council officers say it is becoming increasingly clear that other deterrents, such as official cautions and recovery of cash, are not effective enough.

In the past, the high cost of pursuing fraudsters through the courts has meant that only a few cases have been taken up.

But now the Government has introduced a new subsidy regime whereby it will contribute to the cost of successful prosecutions.

The council has been asked to consider making use of solicitors in private practice to prosecute on its behalf so that more offenders can be brought to court.

Officers now plan to ask legal firms in Sussex to represent the council.

They intend to clamp down on benefit fraud and prosecute offenders more often than in previous years.

Terry Cutler, client services manager in the borough treasurer's department, said: "It seems that some people never learn. Despite several years of intensive action against benefit fraud in Worthing there are still those who have not got the message.

"In the main, most benefit claimants deserve the help they receive.

"The cheats should not be allowed to go unpunished."

The council is expected to consider proposals to increase prosecutions and enlist the help of private solicitors in the next three months.