STOCKTON North MP, Frank Cook, has been criticised for trying to claim nearly £1,500 to spruce up his overgrown garden.

The House of Commons authorities have refused to pay the Labour MP's expenses claim, submitted for the cost of replanting and paving at his London home.

Mr Cook said the bill was "not a hell of a lot of money" and insisted it was justified because he was too busy as an MP to carry out the work himself.

But Coun Bob Gibson, Stockton North Labour Party chairman and leader of Stockton Borough Council, said constituents would be aghast at Mr Cook's actions.

The controversy is likely to be raised at today's meeting of the constituency party in Stockton.

Mr Cook's claim was made under the additional costs allowance scheme, under which MPs are reimbursed for the cost of running a second home in London or in their constituency.

They can claim for "necessary non-capital expenses" - which are repairs, rather than work intended to add value to a property.

A letter from Myla Kelly, the Commons payments officer, informed Mr Cook that part of his claim of £2,966.22, made in November, had been rejected.

She wrote: "An amount of £1,450 for the purpose of reclaiming a derelict garden has been withheld."

Mr Cook dismissed criticism of the expenses claim as a storm in a teacup.

He said: "Do my constituents want me to live in a garden surrounded by jungle? Do they want me to be a gardener or do they want me working for them seven days a week?

"I thought it was a reasonable claim under the heading 'care and maintenance', but it has been questioned and an amount not paid. I will be discussing that with officials in the fees office."

A national newspaper reported that the work was done at Mr Cook's home in Camberwell, south London, last summer, shortly after he bought the property.

The front and rear gardens of the end-of-terrace, three-storey house have been improved. An L-shaped patio and wooden trellises have been added at the rear.

Mr Cook said he had demanded the Speaker set up an inquiry to find out who, within the Commons, had leaked details of his allowances claim.

But Coun Gibson said the Commons authorities were right to refuse the claim, adding: "Maintenance of property and gardening are two separate things.

"I'm disappointed that Frank would submit an expenses claim for this sort of thing, and I think the average person in Stockton North would be aghast.

"I'm amazed that any MP would think this is a legitimate expense. Who encourages them to think that way? It also seems an excessive amount for maintaining a garden."

Coun Gibson said he would be happy for the matter to be discussed at today's meeting, should any party member wish to raise it.