A GREEN teddy bear called Clive was unveiled yesterday as one of the Government's latest weapons against benefit cheats.

The undercover bear is equipped with a hidden spy camera to provide damning film evidence of fraudsters.

Clive, who stands only eight inches high, was shown off to Government anti-fraud minister Malcolm Wicks yesterday as he visited staff at the regional fraud office in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside.

Clive is just one of the gadgets available to investigators. Others include cameras hidden in drinks flasks and a van fitted with hidden surveillance and communications equipment.

Benefit deceptions have fallen in the North-East since 1988, saving taxpayers £9m.

The teddy bear and flask are among the devices used by one fraud investigator - referred to only as Mr X - who revealed that the bear is often used propped up in the back of a car windscreen while its camera monitors movements at a suspect's home.

Footage is used to help gather evidence against benefit claimants who say they are physically unfit to work.

Mr X said: "If it's a case of someone on disability benefits saying they are unable to work and need constant care and we hear that they are working, we use video cameras to tape them."

Mr Wicks said: "I am delighted benefit fraud has gone down in the North-East.

"The Government has set itself demanding targets nationally to reduce benefit fraud by taking tough action against those who do it while making it harder to commit."