A council has spent more than £2,000 on refreshments in one year, the Cornish Times has learned.

The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information request and are related to full council meetings and planning committee meetings at Caradon District Council.

The exact figure was £981.50 for full council and £1,267.50 for planning at meetings that were held between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2008.

A spokeswoman for Caradon District Council explained that one of the reasons why there was more spent at planning meetings was because until June 2007 there were two planning committees; one for east Caradon and one for the west.

She added: 'Full council meetings have also been moved to every six weeks as opposed to once a month which will help to save money.'

Town councils have spent relatively little on refreshments with the most being Looe Town Council, spending £360.21 at the annual meeting and civic sunday.

Liskeard Town Council said that there were no expenses for refreshments.

Saltash Town Council spent £2.70 at council meetings and a further £12.16 at the co-option meeting.

Callington Town Council had expenses of £33.20 with about 20 per cent of that being spent at town council meetings.

Torpoint Town council has estimated that about £15 was spent on refreshments.