MIDDLESBROUGH'S Ashok Kumar was revealed as the North East's most expensive MP last night after claiming £143,796 in allowances in 12 months.

The Labour MP ran up a parliamentary bill 21 per cent higher than the average of £118,437 in 2003-04, according to the first tables produced at Westminster.

Dr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, claimed the full London housing allowance of £20,333 and travel expenses of £16,999, compared to an average of £10,592.

And his postage bill was a staggering £19,066 - the cost of sending 68,092 first-class letters a year, or 290 every working day.

Dr Kumar, parliamentary aide to International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, could not be contacted last night. His allowances were the 21st highest of Britain's 659 MPs.

However, his travel bill was far smaller than that of another local Labour MP, Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell, who claimed £29,570.

Criticism has centred on the 56.1p per mile MPs claim to drive between their constituencies and London, twice the AA's estimate of the cost of wear and tear of 27p a mile.

All MPs have recently sent breakdowns of whether they travel by car, air or rail, but these have not been released by the Commons authorities.

MPs agreed to release details of their allowance claims for the past three years in advance of the Freedom of Information Act requiring them to do so in January.

They cover everything from office and staff costs, to computer equipment, travel expenses, a home in London and postage bills.

The second most expensive MP in the region was Darlington's Alan Milburn (£139,734).

The most frugal was Tony Blair, MP for Sedgefield (£80,836). The Prime Minister claimed £15,490 in housing costs, which went towards the cost of his constituency home, Myrobella.

Downing Street pointed out that Myrobella was also Mr Blair's working constituency office, even when the premier was not present there.

In contrast, former Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson, who famously got in trouble over home buying in London, did not claim any housing costs in 2003-04.

While 11 MPs claimed the full £20,333 allowed for a second home, Chris Mullin, Labour MP for Sunderland South, pocketed only £6,888.

There were also big differences in the amount claimed for staff travel, under rules which allow for up to 15 return journeys per year.

Sir Stuart ran up a bill of £3,029 and Easington MP John Cummings claimed £3,186, while Stockton North MP Frank Cook and Anne McIntosh, Tory MP for the Vale of York, claimed nothing.

While Dr Kumar spent £19,066 on postage, Mr Blair (£443), Mr Cook (£449) and Mr Mandelson (£762) claimed very little.

MPs order many of their stamps from the Sergeant-at-Arms in pre-paid envelopes, but can expect a knock on the door if their bill soars way above the average.

Overall, MPs claimed £78m in allowances last year - up £20.56m from £57.49m in 2001-02, the first year covered by yesterday's figures.

They also receive a backbench salary of £57,485 and generous pension of up to one-fortieth of their final salary for each year they pay in - twice as much as standard schemes.