TWENTY-SIX lorry drivers admitted swindling the Benefits Agency this week after a crack down, expected to save taxpayers more than £26,000.

The benefits cheats were caught red-handed by the Preston Fraud team when they were stopped on the A59 in Samlesbury at a 12-hour checkpoint set up by the police for Operation Canberra.

While vehicles were checked by Traffic police, drivers were passed over to staff from the Benefits Agency who questioned them.

DSS spokesman Tom Eccleston said: "We interviewed 162 people in total, lorry drivers and their mates. Twenty-six instantly came clean and admitted they were receiving benefits. They immediately withdrew their claims."

Other offences which came to light were 19 vehicles with serious defects which had to be taken off the road immediately; 32 with less dangerous faults; and three vehicles running off 'red' diesel (which is illegal because it doesn't carry the same tax as white diesel).

Police dubbed the exercise as 'depressingly successful' and Inspector Dave Pye of the Traffic Support team said: "We picked the vehicles which looked like they needed attention - the ropy looking ones." They were checked for vehicle, driver and load safety.

According to the Benefits Agency, most of those picked up on Thursday last week were signing on the dole claiming Income Support, although a few were on Incapacity Benefit. All money falsely claimed would have to be repaid and Mr Eccleston added: "Ten others in addition to these will be investigated further."

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