Newbury Sound has exclusively revealed this morning that Liberal Democrat David Rendel claimed almost a thousand pounds for a new bed when he was Newbury's MP. 

A copy of an expenses claim made by Mr Rendel in 2004 was passed to the radio station by an anonymous source. It was obtained from the House of Commons under a Freedom of Information Act request.

It shows how between 1st April 2003 and the end of March 2004, he claimed £1,840 for food, £820 to clean his flat, £126 for milk and newspapers as well as eleven thousand pounds in mortage payments plus refunds for council tax, maintenance and utilities. 

Then, at the bottom of the form, is the claim for £934 for the new bed. 

There is no suggestion that Mr Rendell has broken any rules, but this is the first time the claim for the bed has been in the public domain. 

Three weeks ago, he issued a press release about his expenses. He said he was 'in the clear' after Sir Thomas Legg had examined the claims he had made from April 2004 onwards. 

But the claim for the new bed relates to the 2003 financial year, and it is not known if this receipt was reviewed by Sir Thomas Legg.

We invited Mr Rendel to talk 'on -air' about his expenses and whether he thought it was right that the tax payer should have funded his new bed, but so far he has declined our invitation.

He told Newbury Sound that for the media to keep talking about the expenses issue is bad for politics and democracy and that all his claims are 'fully justified'.  He went on to say that he needed the new bed because he suffered back problems, and if his bad back had landed him in hospital, he would have been unable to serve his constituents.

In a few weeks time Mr Rendel will start his election campaign as he attempts to unseat Newbury's Conservative MP Richard Benyon.

You can see an image of the Claim Form below and leave your comment on the story.

A close-up version of the bottom of the form, showing the claim for the bed: