A CAMPAIGN is under way to help people claim housing and council tax benefits.

Huge sums are unclaimed every year, often by pensioners.

Kirklees Council staff want to help people get the money they are entitled to receive.

As part of the West Yorkshire Benefits Week staff from all five councils in the county - Kirklees, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Calderdale - will be spreading the word about benefits entitlement.

In Kirklees, revenues and benefits service staff were today at Huddersfield's open market on Brook Street. Tomorrow they will be at Dewsbury market.

On Thursday, 10 benefits staff will call at public offices from Holmfirth to Birstall.

They aim to visit Kirklees Information Points at Dewsbury and Huddersfield and every cash and information office in Kirklees - eight stops altogether.

These events follow campaigns by each of the five councils which netted people in the county more than £1.5m in extra benefits.

A council spokesman said: "Many were pensioners who worked hard all their lives and were missing out on cash they were entitled to.

"Some older people have got more than £3,000 extra in benefit, but even those who got less are finding they can do a bit more with their lives."

Customers can contact benefits staff by phoning the council's helpline on 01484 414764, calling in at any Kirklees Information Point or cash and information office, or by email to lyl@kirklees.gov.uk