COUNTY Hall bosses today vowed to prosecute people making fraudulent insurance claims against them as their annual liability bill rocketed past £6million.

Lancashire County Council bosses say they have seen a such a huge rise in the number of people claiming for falls and trips that their insurance firm has set an excess of £6million on their policy -- up from £4million last year.

They hit out at fraudulent activity after a Haslingden woman was prosecuted for deception.

Zeta Patel, 52, previously known as Marjorie Allen, of Helmshore Road, as found guilty of obtaining monies by deception.

She had submitted a claim for personal injury against Lancashire County Council as the Highways Authority in respect of tripping accident which allegedly occurred on January 22 1998 at 11 King Street, Bacup.

The claim was dealt with and she was paid damages of £1,573.43 in March 1999. Her solicitor's costs were settled at £1,700.00.

In January last year information was received indicating the claim was fraudulent.

This information was passed to the police for investigation and charges subsequently brought.

Patel pleaded guilty to the charge of obtaining monies by deception and received a 24 month conditional discharge and was ordered to repay compensation to the County Council.

Prior to these proceedings she had received a police caution in respect of a further fraudulent claim because of an alleged tripping accident.

County Councillor Tony Martin, Cabinet Member for Policy, Personnel, Best Value and Member Support, said: "The claim culture has really had an impact on our finances.

"Where we think people are claiming fraudulently we will ask the police to investigate and we will have no hesitation in prosecuting. The county council is not a meal ticket.

"Of course, where we are genuinely at fault we would want to compensate people."

In a bid to crackdown on trips and slips claims, county hall bosses have spent £500,000 creating a force of staff who will tour the county looking for problems in the roads before people have accidents.

Crumbling kerbs, unsafe paving slabs and holes in the road will be spotted.

They have vowed to prosecute. Their annual bill is around £1million.

Coun Martin added: "People used to report a damaged road. Now they just sue."