THREE women are awaiting sentence after admitting their parts in a total £13,000 benefits scam.

Shanaz Akhtar, 28, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, admitted false accounting. Ghazala Hayat, 33, of Percy Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of deception and Sajda Parveen, 32, of Stanley Street, Brierfield, admitted 10 charges of deception.

An allegation of false accounting against Farid Begum, 54, of Halifax Road, Brierfield, was left to lie on the file.

Judge Barbara Watson adjourned the defendants' cases until September 21 for pre-sentence reports and added all sentencing options would be open to the court.