Fraud investigators are hoping to claw back £1.66m which has been illegally claimed by Oxfordshire benefit cheats in the past year.

Staff from the county's five district councils have been working with the Department for Work and Pensions counter-fraud investigation service to track down people claiming housing and council tax benefits dishonestly.

In the year to April 1 this year, 61 fraudsters were successfully prosecuted, 193 claimants received a formal caution and 117 accepted a fine, known as an administrative penalty, as an alternative to a court case.

All were warned they must pay back in full what they owe. If they do not, they face further court action or the seizure of property for sale to settle the debts.

In 2002-3, the frauds uncovered in the county totalled about £760,000.

The amount of fraud that goes undetected is not known. But councillor Susan Brown, Oxford City Council's executive member for community safety, said systems were in place to cross check benefit applications, which meant perpetrators were likely to be caught.

Last month, Rosemary Nyakana, 34, formerly of Church Cowley Road, Oxford, admitted eight benefit fraud offences. She claimed more than £9,000 while working at BMW and for the NHS. She was sentenced to an 180-hour community punishment order.

Last year, the Oxford Mail reported that Jacqueline Black, 48, of Amory Close, Cowley, admitted defrauding the city council of £6,500 in council tax benefit and housing benefit between 1998 and 2001, by claiming she was out of work. She was sentenced to 100 hours' community service and a three-year rehabilitation order.

She had been jailed for two years in December 1995 after she paid £35,000 of taxpayers' money in bogus benefits to friends, while working for the Department of Social Security.

In Oxford, about 10,000 people are claiming benefits to help pay council tax and rent.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO report suspected benefit cheats you can give information in confidence to: Job Centre Plus: 0800 854440; Cherwell District Council: 0800 716152; Oxford City Council:- 01865 252222; South Oxfordshire District Council: 0800 169 5716: Vale of White Horse District Council: 01235 540330; West Oxfordshire District Council: 01993 861234.