A 43-YEAR-OLD Rishton woman who went to Jersey hoping to rekindle an old romance continued to claim benefits despite working as a hotel chambermaid.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Helen Smith earned between £97 and £273 a week from her holiday island job but could not make ends meet due to the high costs of living.

Smith, of School Street, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to obtain benefit and was fined £75 with £50 costs. The court heard Smith claimed benefits as a single parent and had been paid directly through her bank account. She had worked in Jersey during a four-month period in 2003, which resulted in a total overpayment of £1,562.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, said Smith had a 14-year-old daughter who had been born in Jersey. They had spent the last 13 years in this country until Smith decided to go back early last year.

"She hoped to find her former partner and possibly start a new life with him," said Mr Farnsworth. "Unfortunately that did not work out and she found herself having to make ends meet in a place where the cost of living is very high.

"The bed-sit she and her daughter were living in was costing over £100 a week."

He said the money had not been used to finance a lavish lifestyle and it was being repaid.