HAMPSHIRE MPs claimed almost £1.2m of taxpayers' money to cover travel expenses, run their offices and pay for second homes.

County MPs claimed an average £119,349 in expenses and allowances from the public purse - compared to an average of £118,437 for Britain's 659 politicians.

Winchester MP Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, claimed the most in 2003-04 - £127,691.

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, claimed least - £110,728.

This came on top of their MPs salary of £57,485.

They also get a pension of up to one fortieth of their final salary for each year they pay in - twice as much as many schemes.

Details of MP's expenses and allowances were revealed to the public for the first time yesterday.

Three Hampshire MPs - John Denham (Southampton Itchen, Lab), Peter Viggers (Gosport, Con) and Mr Oaten - picked up more than £20,000 each towards renting, paying off mortgages interest on second homes in London or hotel bills.

During the week they live in these homes rather than make the daily two hour plus journey between the capital and their constituencies.

Mr Whitehead only claimed £11,367 of this money preferring instead to travel back to his family on most evenings. More than half of the cash claimed is spent on staff costs, according to the register.

Mr Oaten spent £71,773 while Desmond Swayne (New Forest West, Con) paidout £71,679 maintaining offices in Westminster and Lymington.

Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Con) claimed least for staff - £60,969 - but submitted the biggest receipt in Britain for "other costs" - £17,016 to employ temporary staff after some of his team fell ill.

Eight MPs claimed between £5,500 and £7,200 for travel. But Mr Viggers (£13,287) and Eastleigh's Lib Dem MP David Chidgey (£14,334) spent almost double.

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 their offices, hiring photocopiers and printers, and telephone bills.

Sandra Gidley, Lib Dem MP for Romsey, defended the large sums of money, claiming they were vital if an MP was to do a proper job.

She said: "I think it's good that people see what we spend. It should not be secret. But you have got to bear in mind the money is used to provide a service for constituents.

If there are cuts to allowances, it would be these services which suffer."

Mr Viggers said: "MPs are reimbursed for expenses they have incurred."

Ex Home Office minister Mr Denham defended MPs claiming London living allowances instead of commuting, insisting it gave them more time to devote to work.

He added: "The biggest single area of expense is staff and the running costs of constituency offices, which provide such a first-class service to many people, week in, week out.

"This is not money going into MP's own pockets. Some MPs would have the ability to earn far more outside Parliament than inside.

"No one is going to claim we are badly paid or badly supported, though, and it is up to us to earn it."

In total, MPs expenses soared £20m to £78m.Figures were released in advance of the Freedom of Information Act, which comes into force in January.