CLACTON and Harwich MP Douglas Carswell has been ordered to pay back an expenses claim.

Mr Carswell wrongly claimed twice for a council tax bill and has been told to repay £149 by Sir Thomas Legg, who conducted a review into MPs expenses.

He has also been asked to provide proof that he repaid a deposit of £2,010 on a flat he rented in London.

Sir Thomas also wants more information about more than £1,000 of cleaning receipts that were signed off by Mr Carswell but were not signed by the cleaner who had done the work.

Mr Carswell said he was happy to provide the information required and fully expected to pay back the council tax cash “which was a genuine oversight”.

He said: “I have been asked to pay back a council tax claim which I accidentally claimed for two times and I put my hand up and intend to pay back the £149.

“I had gone through my claims with a fine tooth comb and I missed it.”

Mr Carswell received the letter from Sir Thomas at around 7.30pm on Monday.

He said: “I heard that 500 people had got letters in total, but having said that, the difference in being asked to provide more detail and being asked to pay back is quite a big one.”

Mr Carswell said he always asks himself whether local people would consider his use of public money “sensible and reasonable” before taking anything from the public purse.

He said: “Throughout this whole thing, I have tried to be open, fair and honest.”

“I don't think people should fear this Legg review. I actually think if only this had been done years ago we would not be in this situation.

“It is good. If people are being scrutinised it makes sure they are doing things for the right reasons.”

But he was unsure whether the level of 'reasonableness' , should be brought in to consider expense claims in the future.

Sir Thomas is demanding some MPs, including Gordon Brown, pay back cash on the basis that the sums claimed appear “unreasonable”.

Mr Carswell said: “The problem is if you are vague you leave room for abuse. The fact is, I don't think there has been a lot of common sense.”

The MP’s expenses last year included £1,250 a month on rent, a £655 'love seat' sofa, a fridge freezer at £159 and two tables costing £94.

His expense claims were handed over to the Gazette in June, at the height of the expenses row, as the MP declared he had nothing to hide.

He also made them available on his website, Douglascarswell.com.