A BLACKBURN mother continued to claim benefit despite earning over £500 some weeks working as an agent for a kitchen company.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Paula Holden's average earnings were £221 during a 17 week period when she was over-paid £2,699 in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

Holden, 34, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit and asked for 15 similar offences to be taken into consideration. She was given a conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered to pay £75 costs.

Michael Singleton, prosecuting, said Holden had been claiming benefit at the same time as she was working for Space Kitchens as a supervising agent. He said there was no application for compensation because the Department of Social Security had made its own arrangements for recovery of the over-payment.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said Holden is the mother of three children but at the moment only one lives with her. He the break up of her family brought personal and financial difficulties for Holden. She had initially started doing errands for an elderly neighbour and had properly declared the small amounts of money she earned. When she answered a newspaper advert and got the job with Space Kitchens she continued claiming and things snowballed.

"These court proceedings have had a very salutary affect on her," said Mr Blacklidge.