CASTLE Point MP Bob Spink twice claimed for headed notepaper – because he didn’t like the colour of the ink on the first batch he ordered.

It has also emerged the former Tory MP, now sitting as an independent, splashed out more than £7,000 of taxpayers’ money on adverts in free newspapers.

Dr Spink laid the blame for the duplicated £139 stationery order at his staff’s door.

He said: “I ordered House of Commons business stationery and it came in black, rather than green.

“It was a duplicate order, because it came in the wrong colour. I use green. It came in black. The stationary was misordered by my office.”

The items were part of a total of £9,107 claimed by the MP under his communication allowance – introduced in 2007, to covers costs incurred by MPs in communicating with constituents.

In the year 2007/08, Dr Spink spent £7,050 placing ads with the Yellow Advertiser about local issues.

He also paid for leaflets and posters for the campaign against Calor Gas plans to expand its operations on Canvey.

He said: “It’s important to connect with one’s constituents. If that enables us to fight off Calor gas or protect our green belt, then it was money well spent.”

Dr Spink also claimed £900 for amplification equipment for use at public events. He stressed: “They have never been used privately. They would not be suitable for that.”