LIB DEM Lembit Opik rented out his taxpayer-funded home-despite Parliamentary rules which "strongly advise" MPs NOT to sub-let their second homes.

But he went ahead anyway - and still claimed tens of thousands of pounds in expenses.

The Mid-Wales MP, already under fire for claiming £40 for the cost of a summons for non-payment of council tax, insisted that by taking a tenant he had SAVED taxpayers cash.

Yet he claimed more than £14,000 a year in second home allowance for four years - demanding a total of £68,031.

Opik, best known for his stormy relationship with Cheeky Girls star Gabriela Irimia, said: "Whatever the tenant paid me in rent was reduced from my allowances.

"I actually was worse off because I paid tax on the rent. So no one could accuse me of trying to maximise my claim."

Tory rakes in a right shed-load

TORY MP Peter Atkinson claimed for a garden shed on his expenses -then had the cheek to charge for the TOOLS to build it as well.

The expenses rule book states MPs can charge for maintenance of their garden - but NOT for garden furniture. Yet Atkinson claimed £99.99 for the shed and £21.86 from Homebase for the tools.

Atkinson, who claimed every penny of the £23,083 MPs are allowed for a second home, insisted all his claims were above board.

But he has offered to pay the money back if party leader David Cameron wants him to.

The Hexham MP, who earlier slammed greedy colleagues, has now published his expense claims on the internet. They reveal he also claimed £2,068 to line a chimney at his London home after it failed a safety test.

Some £329 went on replacing a gas fire that was not up to safety standards. He also claimed £2,968 to replace rotten windows.

Mr Atkinson said: "I have been totally transparent. If the scrutineers think that was not acceptable then of course I shall repay it.

"I tend to clear those big items (with the Fees Office) in advance. It was within the rules. It seems to be a difficult judgment whether it enhances the value or is just for wear and tear. I think they are reasonable."

£169 on toaster

A LABOUR MP claimed a massive £169 for a TOASTER as part of the taxpayer-funded £15,000 refurbishment of his two- bedroom second home.

Yet Roger Berry- whose Kingswood constituency is in one of the least prosperous areas of Bristol-could have picked one up from Tesco for a budget £4.47.

Mr Berry also claimed £979 for a TV and DVD recorder and more than £1,000 for a washer dryer, expense claims published by him on his website show.

He also got £2,264 for carpets, £3,425 for building work and £1,880 for decorating the lounge.

Mr Berry, whose second home is in Southwark, South London, said: "The toaster is not an all singing, all dancing one, it's a type that will last for at least 10 years instead of something that won't.

"The washing machine is environmentally friendly, also built to last. I don't think the money for redecorating the lounge is unreasonable."

He said if the fees office thought the claims excessive officials would have queried them.

I'm silly ducker

THE Tory MP who claimed £1,645 for a floating duck island for his pond yesterday said he felt "ashamed and humiliated".

Sir Peter Viggers described his decision to include the feature in his taxpayer-funded second home expenses as a "ridiculous and grave error of judgment."

And the MP-who claimed £30,000 towards gardening costs including £500 for manure-said the ducks had never liked the island anyway.

He said: "I apologise. My claim for the duck house was rightly not allowed by the Fees Office.

"I paid for it myself and in fact it was never liked by the ducks and is now in storage."

Sir Peter was forced to announce he was standing down at the next election after details of the claims were published.

The 71-year-old, who has been MP for Gosport since 1974, was told by Tory leader David Cameron to quit or be fired.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Howard Stoate, who claimed £17,883 for his one-bed London flat, yesterday said he would now be giving up his second home allowance.

But Mr Stoate, whose constituency is close to London in Dartford, Kent, will continue his lucrative second job working as a GP.

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