Mendip District Council's benefit fraud team is inviting members of the public to find out more about its work at a meeting being held this month.

The team will give an insight into how it is clamping down on a potential £3.8 million loss to the Mendip taxpayer through people fraudulently claiming council tax and housing benefits.

The meeting will hear about the various ways that benefit fraud can be reported, what they do with those cases and how they prosecute through the courts. Last year, the council's team successfully prosecuted fraudulent claimants of £100,000.

The presentation, which will include a question-and-answer session with a senior benefit fraud investigation officer, will be made at the West Mendip Community partnership meeting on Wednesday, September 22, at 6.30pm in Glastonbury Town Hall.

Also at that meeting will be a presentation by the manager of Mendip Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Sonia Pike. She will talk about the invaluable work carried out by the bureau across the West Mendip area and how some of the £100,000 given to the voluntary organisation goes towards helping residents in the district.

Councillor Jim Barron, vice chairman of the West Mendip Community Partnership, said: "We have two very important and popular issues being discussed at our next meeting and I would like to see as many people joining the discussion as possible.

"The first will be about benefit fraud, which is a very hot topic at the moment, and figures reveal that fraudsters are costing each household in the UK £80, so it's an issue that affects all of us, not just those wrongly claiming benefit.

"Our other key issue next month will be the hugely important work carried out by the Mendip Citizens Advice Bureau, which for some people is a very valuable lifeline. We'll hear how £100,000 of your money goes to bringing millions of pounds worth of benefits to the district."

Members of the public have the chance to air their views and ask questions at the meeting. If you would like to speak, contact Eve Harris on 01749 341211 before 5pm on Tuesday, September 21.

Also, if you suspect someone of committing benefit fraud, call Mendip District Council on 01749 341375 or 01749 341571. Alternatively, email benefitsenquiry unit@mendip.gov.uk or fill in a benefit fraud referral form at www.mendip.gov.uk.

Get advice at www.mendip cab.org.uk, email advice@ mendipcab.org.uk or telephone a bureau – Shepton Mallet, 01749 343010; Wells, 01749 675677; Glastonbury, 01458 837444; Street, 01458 448275; or Frome, 01373 465496.