CUMBRIA county councillors have claimed more than £130,000 in travel expenses contributing to an £827,000 allowances bill over the last financial year.

Basic and special allowances are fixed but details of travel claims made by all 107 councillors were published yesterday.

Among the top travel claimers were CCC leader Rex Toft (£5,000), and deputy leader Mike Ash (£ 3,000), deputy Labour group leader Anne Burns (£6,174).

Labour leader Stewart Young claimed £124.

CCC spokesman Brian Hough said the disparity in claims was largely down to the distance councillors covered to attend meetings .