ONE of the West's new MPs is at the centre of a media storm over her council tax bills.

Tessa Munt was elected as Liberal Democrat MP for the Wells constituency in May, which covers Burnham and Highbridge, after ousting her Conservative predecessor David Heathcoat-Amory.

Now there is a question mark over whether Mrs Munt has claimed a council tax discount to which she was not entitled, although she denies the allegation.

This week it has been suggested Mrs Munt has been in dispute with her local authority, Sedgemoor District Council, over how many adults live in her Mark home.

Mrs Munt claims a 25 per cent single-persons allowance for being the only adult, not in education, who resides at the property.

There have been allegations that a famous DJ and a doctor have been using the property – prompting an investigation into whether she was really living alone. The Radio 3 DJ Andy Kershaw – whose acrimonious marriage break-up at his home on the Isle of Man brought him before court several times – was registered to vote at Mrs Munt's property.

As was GP and Sedgemoor district councillor Dr John Laband, who had been staying temporarily at the house while going through a divorce.

Mrs Munt, aged 51, maintained this week she had kept Sedgemoor fully informed of the circumstances and does not believe she claimed incorrectly for her single-person status.

She claims she was helping two friends who were going through divorce proceedings to have postal addresses and somewhere to vote.

Some national and daily papers have stated that Mrs Munt faces a police investigation over the issue, but Avon and Somerset Constabulary told this newspaper there was no such police investigation. Conservative-controlled Sedgemoor District Council said it will not comment on the case, but has confirmed that the Audit Commission has been comparing data on held by different sections of the council.

The Wells Conservative Association's deputy chairman David Warburton said: "The Liberal Democrat election campaign literature included promises of fair transparent politics from MPs you can trust.

"She demanded voters should have the right to sack corrupt or rule-breaking MPs.

"If it emerges she took public money inappropriately, she must repay what she took and she must stand down.

"Like all voters here in Wells, we look forward to the results of the investigation."