WEST Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, whose constituency covers Malvern and Upton, claimed the most expenses of any of the county's MPs.

Figures just released show that Mrs Baldwin claimed £171,467 in 2016/17, a higher figure than any of the other five Worcestershire MPs.

She said: “One of my staff members was unwell for a period of time last year and I needed to have additional staff help. This is why my costs this year were higher than usual.

"All my staffing costs are within the budget allocation and within the salary ranges set by IPSA and I do not employ any related parties.

“I have a fully staffed Malvern and Westminster office. I rent the Malvern office on commercial terms. West Worcestershire is a large rural constituency and of the county MPs, it is furthest from Westminster and covers many more square miles, resulting in a large amount of driving."

All together the claims for the six county MPs, all Conservatives, were £927,373 in 2016/17 - including costs of staff, travel, accommodation and administration.

Worcester’s Robin Walker had the lowest total of claims at £127,915, and Mid-Worcestershire’s Nigel Huddleston claimed £161, 404 .

Mr Walker said that none of the other MPs were making outrageous claims.

He added: “Worcester constituency is a fairly compact city, so I don’t claim for travel in the constituency. It’s only going to be a few miles and it’s not really worth the effort to claim for those journeys.

"So my travel claims are basically just for the journey from Worcester to London and back that I make once a week.”

Those claims at just under £4,000 were lower than Mrs Baldwin’s of £7,172 and Mr Huddleston’s £5,731.

He said: “I also have lower accommodation expenses because I rent here in Worcester and that’s significantly cheaper than renting in London.”

Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid claimed £151,315 , Mark Garnier of Wyre Forest claimed £166,234 and Karen Lumley, who stepped down in 2017, claimed £149, 035.