A 55 year old woman has appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with a £91,597 benefit fraud.

Julie Green, of Haslingden Road, Blackburn, is charged with cheating the public revenue by obtaining income support, employment support allowance and money from the social fund to an amount not less that £72,900 by concealing or failing to declare she was living as husband and wife with Anthony Mayman and dishonestly failing to disclose she was living with Mr Mayman which affected her entitlement to housing benefit. She was sent on bail to Preston Crown Court where she will appear on April 30.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said it was alleged Green had been living with her landlord as husband and wife.