BOLTON North East MP David Crausby is considering taking legal action against a national newspaper over claims a £25,000 extension on his mortgage is costing taxpayers an extra £400 per month.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Crausby had taken out the loan to pay for a new kitchen and bathroom.

However, his expenses forms, seen this week by The Bolton News, show his mortgage interest claims have fallen by £421 from £1,331 to £910.

Mr Crausby said: “I do not know where they got the increased figure from. I get a good deal on my mortgage and always look to change it when the deal period ends.

“I always have tried to save money for myself and the taxpayer. I expect at least an apology from the Daily Telegraph and will be speaking to my lawyers.”

Mr Crausby said the revelation he borrowed the extra £25,000 came to light because he informed the Fees Office of a change in his mortgage claim.

He said: “I decided to take out the loan to refurbish my kitchen and bathroom because I wouldn’t have been able to do it all at once on my allowances. I made it clear I would not be claiming the cost of the kitchen and bathroom on my expenses.

“The Telegraph has obviously got mixed up with the figure because it should have said that my claim has fallen by £400.”

Mr Crausby has two homes, one in his Bolton North East constituency — which under the rules he cannot make an expenses claim for — and a flat in London, which he has had for seven years.

His receipts showed he claims about the same amount each month on his second home allowance, including £165 for cleaning, £249 for communal maintenance fees, £249 for insurance and £70 council tax.

His incidental expenses claims — used for running his offices — include fax machine repairs, stationary orders and petty cash for day-to-day supplies at his Blackburn Road constituency office. Speaking about the Daily Telegraph’s campaign, Mr Crausby said he is relieved his claims have finally been made public.

He said: “Even though I knew I hadn’t claimed for anything I shouldn’t have, you are still awaiting the call. It comes as a massive relief I only made an A to Z of MPs on day 22.

“The Telegraph has done a lot of good in exposing MPs who have been out of order, but I think it is going a bit too far now.”

Deborah Dunleavy, the Conservative candidate who will stand against Mr Crausby at the next election, said: “Mr Crausby has claimed £143,775 over the last seven years on his additional costs allowance for the running of his second home, and questions may have to be asked when the final list is published.”