Local MPs claimed £1.53 million of taxpayers' cash last year to pay for

travel, staff, office equipment and second homes, new figures reveal.

The area's 12 politicians raked in an average of £128,168 from the public

purse - compared to £122,677 for Britain's 659 politicians.

But there were wide variations in what MPs recouped, according to details of MPs' expenses and allowances revealed yesterday.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer, a Labour backbencher, claimed the most in 2004-05 - £146,955.

This compared to Labour's Ann Taylor, who represented Dewsbury until the last election, who claimed just £119,668 - almost £27,000 less than her colleague.

Expenses and allowances came on top of the MPs' £57,485 salary. As Industry

Minister and Courts Minister respectively, Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South, Lab) and Chris Leslie (formerly Shipley, Lab) received £88,586 each.

Six MPs - Mrs Cryer, Mr Leslie, Mrs Taylor, Chris McCafferty (Lab, Calder Valley), Harold Best (Lab, Leeds North West) and David Curry (Con, Skipton and Ripon) - picked up more than £20,000 each towards hotel bills, renting

or paying off mortgages interest on second homes in London.

During the week they live in these homes rather than make the daily three

hour-plus commute between the capital and their constituencies.

More than half of the cash claimed is spent on staff costs, according to the register. Mr Curry (£81,439) spent most while Mrs McCafferty forked out

£77,923 maintaining Westminster and constituency offices.

Mr Rooney claimed least for staff - £59,536 - but he claimed most for travel, £16,769, which was more than double the total reimbursed to Marsha Singh (Lab, Bradford West) and Mike Wood (Lab, Batley and Spen).

MPs can claim fares for public transport or up to 57p a mile if they use

their cars. But the register does not show if they catch trains or drive gas-guzzling cars.

Politicians can also claim for three trips to Europe.

Other expenses and

allowances include the cost of furnishing and heating offices, hiring

photocopiers and printers, stationery and telephone bills.

MPs defended the large sums of money, claiming they were vital to do a

proper job.

MP Nick Harvey, spokesman for the Members' Estimates Committee, said the

figures showed the public received "excellent value for money".

He said: "In the age of instant communication, constituents demand that

their MP can be contacted wherever and whenever necessary, and that she or

he should be in touch with all important issues - locally and nationally."

In total, MPs expenses rose £2 million to £80.8 million. Croydon Central MP Geraint Davies, a Labour backbencher, claimed most - £176,026. Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Terry Jones received least - £42,709 -

but he left Westminster to take a job in Brussels half way through the year.