MORE than £250,000 has been recovered from Scrooge bosses in the region who have not been paying the national minimum wage to their staff.

Figures released last night by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt revealed details of cases identified by Inland Revenue enforcement teams over the past six months.

The teams investigated more than 500 cases in the North-East and Yorkshire and Humber, which resulted in more than 1,000 workers receiving more money.

Nationally, more than 3,000 cases were examined and £2.4m was recovered for more than 5,000 employees.

Since the national minimum wage was introduced in April 1999, almost £18m has been recovered across the UK.

Ms Hewitt said: "It's great news that this money was recovered in time for Christmas, but employees should be covered throughout the year not just during the season of goodwill.

"The national minimum wage provides a basic level under which no-one working should fall.

"The vast majority of employers do comply with the rules, but we are determined that all low-paid workers should get the pay they are entitled.

"We carry on tracking down those unscrupulous bosses who refuse to pay the national minimum wage when they should be, and make them pay up."

Shopworkers' union leaders last night welcomed the recovery of the cash but claimed that some companies were still exploiting staff, especially 16 and 17-year-olds.

Lisa Hesse, development worker for the North-East branch of USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, said: "Within companies where we do not have agreements, it is still a problem. The introduction of the minimum wage has helped but we are finding a lot of 16 and 17-year-olds are still being paid as little as £2 an hour.

"These are people who are working full-time, or those who just have Saturday jobs, and it is right across the board from corner shops to national companies where we do not have an agreement."

Any employees who are not receiving the national minimum wage, and believe they should be, are asked to contact the Inland Revenue on (0845) 6000678.