Essex county councillors ate more than £20,000 worth of free food at County Hall last year, new figures have shown.

The county council has released an individual breakdown of the cost of food eaten per councillor for 2013/14.

Rodney Bass, cabinet member for highways, ate the most free meals at £995, followed by council vice-chairman John Aldridge on £986.

Out of the Braintree district's representatives, Roger Walters, who represents Three Fields with Great Notley, claimed the most, at £786.21 Witham Southern councillor Derrick Louis, who is cabinet member for transformation and corporate and traded services, claimed £648.01.

Joe Pike, for Halstead, ate £336.60 worth of meals, council leader David Finch, representing Hedingham ward, claimed £312.75 and Braintree town councillor Graham Butland claimed £227.23.

James Abbott, representing Witham northern, claimed nothing, Bocking councillor Gordon Helm claimed £62.55 and Lady Patricia Newton, councillor for Braintree Eastern, claimed £72.50.

There are 75 serving councillors, but the council's list is made up of 122 people, as it includes former members voted out in May.