Benefit fraud investigators say they are taking on 160 new cases every month from people "shopping" suspected claimant cheats in Oxford.

And the city's Jobcentreplus has appealed to those who suspect their friends, neighbours or work colleagues of cheating the system to continue coming forward.

Oxfordshire in general - and East Oxford in particular - has become a worry for benefit fraud investigators.

In Oxford, the team secured 75 court prosecutions for benefit fraud between April and December last year in cases involving sums between £2,000 and £42,000. A number of cautions and so-called administrative penalties were handed out to lesser offenders (where the individual has to pay back what they fraudulently claimed plus a 30 per cent fine).

However, they think this could be the tip of the iceberg.

Fraud investigator Julie Crosby said: "The majority of people claiming disability living allowance would give anything to be out working, so when they see people working it must really get to them.

"I would encourage people to get on the phone and shop people - and it does happen quite a lot. I have taken a few calls and many say 'I would not normally do this, but I pay my tax and the people down the road are boasting about cheating the system, have two cars and go on holidays'."

At any given time the fraud investigation team, who work out of the Jobcentreplus offices behind Oxford police headquarters in St Aldate's, work on 800 "live" investigations across Oxfordshire.

Last month, 5,085 people were receiving incapacity benefit, 4,470 income support and 1,698 jobseeker's allowance in Oxford. In addition, there were 9,152 receiving council tax benefit from Oxford City Council.

One of the most serious cases the team investigated recently was that of an Oxford woman who was claiming single parent allowance while living in Rose Hill with her partner and children.

The city council tenant received £83,000 in payments she was not entitled to and was given a community punishment order when the case went to court.

Suspected fraud can be reported by calling 0800 854440.