Labour MP Paul Clark has won his appeal against repaying almost £12,000 in House of Commons expenses.

The Gillingham and Rainham MP was ordered to pay back £11,750.35 in mortgage interest payments for his second home in London following the expenses audit earlier this year.

Sir Thomas Legg’s report stated Mr Clark failed to provide evidence to support the claims made in 2008-09.

At the time Mr Clark said the discrepancy was down to a simple oversight and immediately lodged an appeal.

Sir Paul Kennedy, the judge brought in to arbitrate on disputed claims, has now written to Mr Clark to confirm his appeal has been successful and he does not have to repay the money.

He wrote: "You have now provided the missing evidence which shows that in the relevant financial year [2008-2009] the interest which you paid to your mortgage lender was well in excess of £11,750.35. It follows, therefore, that it would not be fair and equitable to require you to repay any part of that sum and I will allow your appeal in full."

Mr Clark said: "In more than 21 years of elected public service, I have never sought to abuse the trust of the electorate, whether as a councillor or as a Member of Parliament; I certainly don’t intend to start now.

"I said at the time that the lack of evidence to support the claim was a simple oversight and this has been borne out by those given the duty to investigate."