Former Shipley MP Chris Leslie was the biggest-spending Bradford candidate at last month's General Election.

But despite splashing out more than £11,000 in the run-up to polling day, Labour's former minister was defeated by the Conservatives' £9,808 campaign by new MP Philip Davies.

The figures were revealed in expenses documents released by Bradford Council.

Of all 28 candidates who stood in the district's five constituencies, the top three big spenders were Mr Leslie, defeated Labour candidate for Shipley (£11,435), Ann Cryer, the winning Labour candidate for Keighley (£10,719) and Karl Poulsen, defeated Conservative candidate for Keighley (£10,006).

In Bradford North, Labour's Terry Rooney spent £4,199 getting re-elected - less than half the £8,424 spent by his Liberal Democrat opponent and Bradford Councillor David Ward. The Respect party's Umit Yildiz spent £6,064.

Marsha Singh, re-elected MP for Bradford West, spent £9,798, with the Conservatives' Haroon Rashid chalking up £7,678.

While in Bradford South, Gerry Sutcliffe was returned after spending £9,978 - more than three times that of Tory candidate Geraldine Carter (£3,011).

The law places strict spending limits during an election so those with large sums of money can't influence the outcome by being better financed.

All candidates stayed within the limits, which allow a basic sum of £7,150 and five pence per voter in urban areas - the three Bradford constituencies - and seven pence per voter in rural areas - Shipley and Keighley.

All election expenses have to be filed with the returning officer within 35 days of the declaration of the result and failure to do so can lead to a fine.

The documents outline areas of spending and are usually made up of printing for election flyers, posting costs, venue hire for rallies and office supplies.

But some of the more unusual 2005 declarations include:

l Labour MP Terry Rooney spent £31 on wooden stakes, £15 on a hammer and nails and £1.50 on a saw

l Respect's Mr Umit Yildiz spent £820 on two fundraising meals at the Habib Restaurant, Killinghall

l Tory candidate Haroon Rashid spent £275 on balloons

Yesterday, the Telegraph & Argus reported how BNP leader Nick Griffin, a Keighley candidate, failed to meet the deadline for filing expenses.