A TRIP to the USA attended by south Essex politicians spiralled more than £40,000 over budget, the Echo can reveal.

Essex County Council has defended the costs of its week-long trip to Jamestown, Virginia, saying it helped two Essex companies strike deals - with each other.

Nine councillors went on the trip to Virginia in June last year as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of English settlement.

The visit was supposed to cost £24,860 including business class flights, with £6,550 to be paid for by various sponsors.

Among the delegates were council leader Lord Hanningfield, Rayleigh councillor Stephen Castle, who is responsible for regeneration, and Basildon Labour group leader Paul Kirkman.

However, a Freedom of Information request by the Echo reveals a problem with the flight led to them buying more expensive BA business class flights both ways at the last minute, totalling £39,470.

The total cost to taxpayers was £61,950 - or £7,422 a head for the nine councillors who visited.

The changes also added an extra £2,468 to the planned £15,201 costs for accommodation, meals and other expenses.

County Hall says it is determined to claw back the overspend.

Mr Kirkman, who has previously criticised Tories at Basildon Council for going to a property exhibition in Cannes, France, said he believed the trip was worthwhile.

He said: "We need to forge appropriate links across the world. I was working out there representing the people of Essex.

"If we can introduce businesses to one another across the Atlantic then it is worthwhile. The county council should not be a Thomas Cook for councillors, but we need an international profile."

Lord Hanningfield said the American trip was about more than just celebrating the anniversary.

He said: "The county council wanted to use the interest generated by the Jamestown anniversary to create new trade and business links between Essex and Virginia.

"We also wanted to encourage more American tourists to explore their Essex heritage."

The county council maintains the trip was good value because it helped introduce legal and financial services company Shergroup and a telecommunications business.

But both companies are within 25 miles of County Hall. Shergroup is in Braintree and MultipartyTalk is in Colchester.

Eleri Roberts, county council spokeswoman, said: "The cancellation of the flights was unfortunate and we are in the process of regaining the money that was outlaid to purchase new flights.

"That is something which is in the hands of our lawyers and insurance company and we are determined to get that back."