MIDDLESBROUGH'S Ashok Kumar was revealed as the North-East's most expensive MP for the second year running last night - after claiming £158,844 in allowances.

The Labour backbencher ran up a parliamentary bill 30 per cent higher than the Commons average of £122,678, making him the fourth costliest of Britain's 659 MPs.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP's bill has risen ten per cent in 12 months, from £143,796.

In 2004/5, his travel expenses rose to £18,057, his stationery costs to £7,556 and his postage bill to £22,720, compared to just £13,767 the year before.

The tally is the equivalent of sending 75,733 first-class letters in one year - or 291 for every working day.

The second costliest North-East or North Yorkshire MP was Alan Milburn (Darlington), who spent £154,139, putting him in tenth place in the Westminster league table.

He was also the second most expensive MP in the region last year.

The next highest were Dari Taylor (Stockton South - £139,123, 70th), John Cummings (Easington - £138,064, 82nd) and the outgoing Derek Foster (Bishop Auckland - £137,897, 84th).

In contrast, the least costly local MP was Tony Blair (Sedgefield - £93,996, 637th).

The Prime Minister did not spend a single penny on postage and only £439 on travel during the year.

Peter Mandelson's expenses come to £88,572, less than the Prime Minister's total, but the Hartlepool MP stepped down in September last year to become a European Commissioner.

Mr Kumar could not be contacted last night, but has previously defended his postage bill by insisting he writes to his constituents at every opportunity.

But, while Mr Kumar spent £22,720 on postage, his neighbour Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough) made a claim of just £70.

It is the second year that MPs have released details of their allowances claims, following the passing of the Freedom of Information Act.

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

Criticism has centred on the 57.7p per mile MPs could claim last year to drive between their constituencies and London - twice the AA's estimate of the true cost of wear and tear.

In addition, MPs are not required to itemise journeys made within their constituencies for the first 350 miles each month.

MPs with sky-high postage bills have faced accusations that they are forcing the taxpayer to fund publicity mailshots, rather than to perform their official duties.

And they can use the so-called "additional cost allowance" of up to £20,902 to buy a London home at public expense - opting for interest-only mortgages to cut their own repayment costs.

However, the Commons authorities insist the overall bill to the taxpayer is no higher than if those MPs used the allowance to pay rent or hotel bills.

While most MPs claimed the full £20,902 for a second home in the capital, the chief whip, Hilary Armstrong (Durham North West), pocketed only £12,708.

Mr Milburn, the former Cabinet minister, claimed £22,617 for travel costs, while fellow former minister Chris Mullin (Sunderland South) ran up a bill of only £5,465.

In total, allowances claims rose by 3.8 per cent in 2004/5 to £80,844,465, an increase mainly because of higher staff pay, Commons officials said.

The largest allowance claim in the Lords came from Labour peer and former senior policeman in County Durham, Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate, who received £60,013.