EXPENSES from MPs in Derby and Derbyshire have continued to raise eyebrows after they claimed almost £160,000 last year for their second homes.

Among claims made were those for a doorbell, a mop and bucket, the refurbishment of a bedroom and a kitchen – all at the taxpayers' expense.

Yesterday's publication relates to claims made during the financial year 2008-9 – during a period when MPs knew receipts would be published in full and when the expenses scandal began to break.

Susie Squire, political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "These latest raft of expense claims further emphasise how some MPs have abused taxpayers' generosity. The fact that many items that are in no way essential to an MP's central job have been paid for by of ordinary people will only increase public anger."

Previous releases from the Commons authorities related to the four years from 2004-5 to 2007-8 when MPs were free to claim the furniture and luxury items that optimised the expenses scandal.

But by 2008-9, with public anger growing, rules were already beginning to tighten, with MPs required to submit receipts for more items.

Documents from yesterday's release show some MPs were becoming more frugal, claiming almost solely for mortgage interest or rent payments.

Four of the county's MPs, Derby South's Margaret Beckett, Amber Valley's Judy Mallaber, South Derbyshire's Mark Todd and Bolsover's Dennis Skinner, claimed less than half of the amount they were entitled to in the year, £24,006.

Mrs Beckett had previously been at the centre of the expenses scandal having had a claim for £600 for pot plants and hanging baskets rejected by the Commons authority.

During 2008-9 Mrs Beckett did not claim for mortgage interest or rent and restricted other claims to utilities, council tax, insurance and a gas appliance check.

She said: "I usually don't get round to filling out the claim form to the very end of the year and by the time I did we had been advised not to claim for things like cleaning and gardening. I had incurred costs during the year for those things but thought it was right not to put in for them."

The three political party leaders have agreed new temporary rules for expenses which restricted MPs.

Mrs Beckett said: "There are lots of people who will read this story and will still wonder why we get to have things like utility bills paid for. The important thing to remember is that we have two sets of bills, two sets of council tax and two sets of everything. And we pay one set just like everyone else."

The highest claimer in the county in 2008-9 was West Derbyshire MP Patrick McLoughlin who claimed back almost £22,500 – including money for decoration and refurbishment work on his constituency home. The MP, who was unavailable for comment, is the opposition chief whip and was tasked by David Cameron to sit on a committee which reviewed questionable claims made by Tory MPs and had the power to order them to repay.

His own claims in 2008-9 were made despite controversy over Mr McLoughlin's form in previous years which saw him claw back £3,000 to replace windows on the same property and £4,000 for a new central heating system.

Behind him for highest claimers in 2008-9 was Erewash MP Liz Blackman who, records show, claimed £21,920.

Documents showed that Ms Blackman was an MP who was caught out by new stricter rules which were in place last year requiring MPs to provide receipts for any payment over £25. The fees office rejected a claim in April 2008 for "utilities and council tax" after she failed to provide a receipt.

Meanwhile South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd claimed under £10,000 – his receipts included work to finish refitting a kitchen begun earlier.

Other claims were: Derby North MP Bob Laxton, £18,588.86; South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd, £9,869.81; Derby South MP Margaret Beckett, £7,851.79; and Amber Valley MP Judy Mallaber, £5,656.67.