An MP revealed she regularly sleeps on a camp bed in her Westminster office rather than spend taxpayers' money on a second home.

Laura Moffatt, Labour MP for Crawley in West Sussex, gave up her rented London flat last year because the "annual cost did not sit comfortably with me".

Instead, she said she sleeps on a camp bed in her office when the House of Commons sits late more than once a week rather than book into a hotel.

On her website, Moffatt said: "I have always believed it is wrong for public servants to make money out of the public purse and I do not defend anyone who does so.

"In the past 12 years that I have been an MP, I rented a flat for two-and-a-half years when late night/early morning commuting became too much, but gave it up because the annual cost did not sit comfortably with me.

"I completely sympathise with the anger felt by many in the UK about the kinds of things some MPs have claimed for.

"For myself, I never travel first class when commuting and since getting rid of my flat I more often sleep on a camp bed in my office when the house sits late (more than once a week) rather than book into a hotel and have only made one claim for personal goods in 2007-08, under £20 I think, to replace some towels."

Moffatt, 55, revealed her use of an office camp bed as she published full details of her expenses claims over a 12-month period on her website.

The figures, covering the 2007-08 financial year, showed she claimed a total of £18,387 for the costs of staying away from her main home for parliamentary duties.

The MP, who claimed more than £1,300 a month in rent for most of the period, regularly claimed for council tax, food and utility bills.

In February last year, Moffatt, a mother of three who was first elected in 1997, wrote to the Fees Office informing officials she had given up her London home.

As a result of no longer having a second home, her total claim under the additional costs allowance for 2008-09, due to be officially published later this year, would be just £38 for an outstanding bill on her former flat, she told the Brighton Argus.