Local MP Sheryll Murray has defended her spending after it was revealed she had the highest expenses bill among MPs in the South West.

This week £3m worth of MPs' expenses were publicly revealed for the period from May 7 to August 31. The Conservative MP for South East Cornwall billed for £15,755.12, more than twice as much as any other Cornish MP and the highest figure among Westcountry MPs.

The next highest figure for Cornish MPs was Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell and Newquay, who claimed £7,619.93 while MP for Camborne and Redruth George Eustice claimed just £498.86.

Mrs Murray's expenses included almost £5,000 in rent on her London flat and more than £4,000 in staffing costs.

She said: 'A number of expenses in this initial period related to payments which covered the period beyond the claim period and indeed were costs for the year.

'One of my priorities was to set up an office to help my constituents. Many of these expenses are start-up costs relating to the office which was in need of work being done to it before it could serve its function.

'I have been keen to keep costs down with much of the office furniture being loaned free of charge and paying non-essential costs such as Christmas decorations out of my own pocket.

'My team got to grips with the complicated claims procedure before many other MPs including some who did not manage to process any claims in the initial period.'