The following comments have been made via the Worthing Herald's website and Facebook, although Mr Loughton described some of the criticisms as "daft claims".

Steve Norton commented: "I don't know about the rest of the population, but I have to pay for my accommodation, meals, shopping, interest on loans (including mortgages) and everything else, out of my own salary (which is certainly not £64,766).

"Cleaning? What? Is it too much trouble for them to whiz around with a Hoover and a duster?

As for a second home in London, why don't they commute, like normal people?"

Bookiebasher, of Worthing, commented: "How these people keep straight faces is beyond me.

Outrageous costs, and I can honestly say I am unaware of a single achievement made by this pair.

Let's be clear about what these men are; self-serving, arrogant, old school tie luvvies."

Samantha Chown says: "I only got through one link and was disgusted as to what they get paid and get to claim back.

"If only we got to keep the majority of our combined wages, which don't even reach a third of what they get, why should we struggle to pay our way, on their doing of ruining the economy?

"I seriously think they should re-think what they get to claim back.

"All I get is travel expenses, even that's taxed in my wages from which I already pay my road and fuel tax."

Beth Thomas writes: "I'm astounded at how much they claim on expenses.

"Considering the fact that I live in East Worthing and I never see Tim
Loughton anywhere, let alone hear anything about what he's actually doing to support his constituency.

"I'm a childminder and I claim expenses but I would never claim for bottled water when I can get it free from the tap. And is it really so necessary to pay a company to manage his computer software at a staggering grand a year?"

Mps' response

Mr Loughton replied: "If any of these people had raised these questions directly with me/taken the trouble to look at my website/come along to one of my street surgeries or meetings, they would have been able to answer their own questions.

"As to Mr Norton and Samantha Chown, I, too, pay my own mortgage, council tax, utility bills, shopping, etc.

"The allowances system is there so that we do not have to pay it twice on having to maintain two dwellings in order for us to be able to do our jobs at Westminster and in our constituencies during hours which are largely not in our control.

"I have never claimed anything for cleaners, as checking the record will show.

"As regards commuting, I would be happy to commute if we were able to do the standard office hours of most commuters from Worthing or elsewhere.

"It would be great to see rather more of my family as a result.

"As it is, I am usually in my office by 7.30am and leave it after 11pm when I am staying in London in order for me to cope with my workload...

"Bookiebasher and Beth Thomas should read the local papers, watch the local media, look at my website, subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter, read my annual report, come to one of my regular street surgeries or public meetings, respond to my TellTim podcast surveys, come to one of my fortnightly surgeries, try ringing/emailing/writing to me or any other way of communicating with me before making such daft claims.

"Regarding bottled water, I have a water cooler in my office, which is there for the benefit of all my staff and visitors to my office. I don't use bottled water – that would be much more expensive.

"Palace Computing provide computer services to a large number of MPs dealing with software problems and, in my case, setting up and sending out my electronic newsletters, etc."

Mr Bottomley, when asked by the Herald about a £980 receipt for bookshelves, said he dealt with this matter a month ago; at the open meeting.

"The Fees Office told me that with the full details it would be accepted; it was not excessive. Strictly, it was accepted, though repayment was not made.

"As it happened, I said that if there had even been a question about them I would not take further the repayment, and did not."

Referring to the blacked-out sections on his claim form, Mr Bottomley said: "In my case, most of what was blanked was the number of the mortgage, etc.

Mr Bottomley added: "If I may comment on the Beth Thomas assertion that Tim Loughton is not to be seen, I can testify that he is constantly active in public and meetings, and with individual constituents.

"She is really fortunate in her MP."

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