Ken's £3,000 taxi bill

Ken Livingstone ran up a £3,000 taxi bill last year after refusing a free bus and Tube pass.

The full extent of the Mayor's expenses was revealed by publication of the Greater London Authority's accounts yesterday.

Although he claimed more than in previous years, his taxi expenses were dwarfed by those of Nikki Gavron, his Labour opponent in the next mayoral elections. She charged the GLA £4,484.92.

Tory leader Eric Ollerenshaw, who accepted a free travel pass, also claimed £936.07 for cabs.

Mr Livingstone's bill was boosted by several visits to well-known London restaurants while entertaining guests - part of which he reimbursed out of his own pocket.

Overall the Mayor, who earns £108,000 a year, claimed £6,213 in expenses, including £798.80 for an economy ticket to Moscow, a further £111.10 for domestic travel, £30.32 for telephone calls and £2,264 in other expenses.

Although a committed Tube user, he has often been criticised for his expenditure on cabs.

A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "The Mayor turned down the offer of a chauffeur-driven car on grounds of cost. He does use public transport daily but on occasion has to use taxis when time is short."