MPs refusing to pay bar and restaurant bills at the House of Commons have cost taxpayers thousands of pounds.

A Freedom of Information request found that the parliamentary authorities have had to write off more than £17,000 worth of unpaid catering bills since 2010.

The debt was racked up by four unnamed MPs, 21 tradespeople and one internal member of staff on food and drink.

The research also found that a peer had a £243 restaurant bill written off while an MP left a £30 catering bill outstanding.

All restaurant facilities are subsidised for MPs, who earn £77,379 a year and members of the House of Lords, who earn a £305 per day attendance allowance, plus travel expenses.