A FORMER leader of Worcestershire County Council has been claiming car expenses for his wife after being banned from the roads for drink driving.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, who resigned from his position at County Hall 13 months ago, has been handing in multiple expenses since then to be driven around by his spouse.

The claims, which have all been signed off by the council's legal chief, include costs for being driven from his Bredon home to the authority's Spetchley HQ and to parish council meetings in areas like Eckington and Defford.

The Tory was handed a 16-month driving ban by magistrates in January last year after pleading guilty to drink driving following a police operation in Tewkesbury.

Since last January, he has claimed £181.25 in car travel, although it includes several reimbursements just days before his ban, including to a conference in London.

But between March and May he claimed £20.80 for six car trips to various locations while in July - the last forms to be handed in - there were two driving claims totalling £6.40.

He also claimed £122.90 for train travel to a Local Government Association conference in London back in April.

Councillor Hardman says all the claims were "within the rules" and properly signed off, but he has come under attack from the opposition Labour group, which had called upon him to quit County Hall altogether last year.

Councillor Peter McDonald, Labour group leader, said: "It might work for the ex-leader of this council, but it doesn't work for the taxpayer.

"I don't think this council should be stumping up cash for someone who was convicted of drink driving."

But Councillor Hardman said: "The number of claims are pretty low and if you look at Wychavon District Council (which he also sits on) you will see I've claimed absolutely nothing.

"It's for my wife to drive me somewhere, it's within the rules and they've all been checked and signed off by (chief legal officer Simon) Mallinson.

"Is anyone really objecting to her driving me to a parish council meeting and sitting in a car, in the cold, waiting for me?

"I haven't claimed since July because I can't be bothered to fill in the forms, the numbers are so low anyway."

He added that he was "very disappointed" and "sickened" by the opposition's criticism, saying he is trying to fulfill his duties - and that his wife was trying to help him out where she could.