CROSBY MP Claire Curtis-Thomas claimed £724 to refurbish a fireplace at her constituency home, six months before her resignation.

The outgoing Labour MP also used taxpayers’ cash for a new £880 carpet and £1,207 to have new gates made and fitted to her home, the latest batch of receipts reveals.

She also claimed for a £346 mobile phone bill, for April, 2009.

But the fees office struck out claims totalling £47.15 for a BT Alarm Line and boiler services, after rules changed in what MPs are allowed to claim for.

The MP appeared 118th in the league of highest claimers on the second home allowance last year, with a total of £23,660.

Last night, Ms Curtis-Thomas could not be contacted for comment.

In correspondence to the fees clerks, Ms Curtis-Thomas said the fireplace had to be replaced because the internal brickwork had started to collapse.

The claim was made in April, two weeks before the expenses scandal broke.

The MP announced in October she would stand down at the General Election.

Among the reasons she gave for her resignation was receiving hate mail over her expenses.

Her husband, Michael Jakub, was confronted at her constituency office and quizzed by angry callers.