A married woman has been convicted of benefit fraud after a story about her in which she claimed to be a single parent appeared in her local paper.

Cheryl Dove complained to the Hull Daily Mail that the city council had failed to collect flood-damaged furniture from her home.

But the 34-year-old landed herself in hot water after telling a Mail reporter that she was a single mother.

She was in fact married and after the story appeared, readers who knew the truth complained to the Department of Work and Pensions.

The mother-of-two pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Hull Crown Court.

She had falsely claimed housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support between 2003 and 2007.

Dove admitted having falsely over-claimed payments totalling £20,148, although the DWP is seeking to recoup £37,000 and is deducting this from her benefits.

Judge Simon Jack gave her an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered her to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.