A WOMAN who worked while claiming benefits has ended up with a criminal record -- and prompted council bosses to use the case as a warning to other fraudsters.

Delia Foster, 58, of St Andrew's Close, Ramsbottom, was found guilty of working at a pub with her husband and failing to declare it to benefits officers.

Foster has been ordered to complete a 120 hours community punishment order and to pay £342 in costs to Bury Council after the council prosecuted her at Bury Magistrates' Court.

Foster was convicted of failing to notify the council that her husband had started work, as well as two charges of giving false information on a claim form.

She failed to include information about them both being in employment.

Benefits bosses said she was overpaid more than £3,400 in housing benefit between September 3, 2001 and July 6, last year.

Bury Metro Council launched an investigation after staff received an anonymous tip-off from a local resident about the couple's pub work.

The court was told that Mr Foster had been working at The Fusiliers, Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, since March 23, 2002.

Magistrates also heard that both Mr and Mrs Foster had also been working at the Brook pub, also in Bolton Road West, Ramsbottom, from August 26, 2001.

The court heard Mr Foster was working full-time at the Brook between September 29, 2002 and May 1 last year.

A spokesman for the Brook pub said: "I didn't know anything about the case.

"This is the first thing I knew about it so I wouldn't really like to comment further."

Coun Wayne Campbell, Bury Council's executive member for resources, said: "Once again, the council has acted against a person who has been caught out cheating the system.

"This case should act as a warning to other people who are doing the same thing.

"I would like to publicly thank those responsible for tipping off the council about this case of abuse and helping us drive down benefits fraud."