PEOPLE, who fraudulently claim to be single to get a reduction in council tax, are the subject of a new crackdown.
Basildon Council has launched the drive to snare people who claim the 25 per cent discount by claiming to be living alone, when they are in fact co-habiting with spouses or partners.
Each year councils across the country receive a massive volume of applications for the Single Person Discount, but hundreds later turn out to be fraudulent.
But now Basildon Council is launching a zero-tolerance crackdown on the cheats.

*Full story in Tuesday's Echo