MP John Baron is refusing to say how much time he spends at his “second home” following allegations he rarely stays there.

Mr Baron, who became MP in 2001, has claimed the maximum expenses to cover the cost of his constituency base for three out of the last four years.

He claimed a total of £23,083 last year.

The property in Bramble Tye, Noak Bridge, functions as a constituency office from Monday to Friday and residents claim Mr Baron is rarely seen at weekends or during Parliamentary recess.

Tory sources said the majority of his time is spent with family in London and he uses the Noak Bridge address some weekends or for constituency functions.

Kim Clarke, 49, regularly visits his ex-wife at her home next door to Mr Baron’s home.

He said: “I knew an MP lived there, but don’t even know his name.

“I take the kids to school, so am here in the mornings.

“You only ever see two women open the office up or vans delivering stationery and office equipment.

“When I lived here I thought it was strange no-one ever seemed to be living there.”

Mr Baron maintains he needs the property as a base in the district and doubling up as an office saves taxpayers’ money because he does not need to rent a separate premises.

The living room acts as an office for paid staff and the dining room is a surgery when he is there on Fridays.

Latest figures show he claimed £13,167 in the financial year 2007/08 for incidental expenses which cover office rent, equipment, phone lines and other costs, on top of the full second homes allowance.

This was just £5,400 less than Basildon MP Angela Smith claimed for the category which included £1,000 a month to rent her constituency office in Luckyn Lane, Basildon.

In previous years Mr Baron has claimed £19,422 for incidental expenses – around £2,000 below the maximum.

Mr Baron said: “I have made no secret the constituency home is my second home and I have never flipped.

“I need two bases, because I can’t be based in the constituency during the week when Parliament can run until midnight.

“I spend most of the week in London, but need a base in the constituency when I am here.

“It is none of your business how often I am there.

“I spend more time in the constituency when Parliament is in recess, but I am not prepared to say when I am here or not as it would be a charter for thieves.

“My constituency home has already been the subject of publicity stunts and attacks.”

He could not fully explain why his incidental expenses ran close to other MPs who pay up to £1,000 a month on office rent, but said it would include kitting out his office with computers, updating technology, office phone lines and also covered some expenses in his Westminster office and staff travel costs.

He added: “By basing my office in the constituency I have cut costs. They would be more if I rented another office. My expenses are higher because I have one of the largest constituencies which means more phone calls and letters. You should be targeting those who have claimed for chandeliers and extensions, not MPs trying to crack on and do a good job.”