A 39-YEAR-OLD woman who claimed income support on the basis that she was unfit to work was employed as a newspaper street vendor.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Maureen Scanlon was overpaid by £1,906 over an eight month period during which she was earning between £71 and £135 a week selling the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Scanlon, of Standon Street, pleaded guilty to obtaining benefit by deception and asked for 18 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 costs. Michael Singleton, prosecuting, said the Benefits Agency would make its own arrangements for recovery of the over-payment.

He said that when interviewed Scanlon claimed she could not live on her benefits alone and had thought she would not be detected.

Richard Prew, defending, said Scanlon had never been in trouble before and probably never would be again. "She thought she was entitled to work a number of hours, which was correct but she still had to declare them," said Mr Prew.