FORMER Chippenham MP Duncan Hames has had an investigation into his 2015 General Election expenses dropped by Wiltshire Police.

Mr Hames, along with current Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan, were both investigated following allegations made by the Daily Mirror and Channel 4.

This was in connection with MPs failing to declare expenses regarding party Battle Buses which visited constituencies during the election.

Police confirmed they had received an email from the public regarding Mr Hames’ expenditure but found no wrongdoing.

A police spokesperson said: “The circumstances were that the then party leader Nick Clegg visited Chippenham in his own bus, and there was a concern that this should have been included in Mr Hames expenditure return.

“This is not the case, and there was no requirement for him to include this visit.

“Party Leaders visit constituencies during elections and the cost comes out of central party funds.

“The Channel 4 News programme highlighted circumstances relating to the Conservative and Unionist Party’s use of a ‘Battlebus’ to bring party activists to marginal seats to support the local candidate, a completely separate issue and not a tactic used by the Liberal Democrat Party.

“Wiltshire Police have investigated this allegation and are satisfied that the details as reported were in fact not present in Duncan Hames’s campaign.

“Wiltshire Police have closed their investigation and conclude that Duncan Hames and his agent were not in breach of any offences contained in the Representation of the Peoples Act 1983.”

Mr Hames, who represented the Liberal Democrats, said: “It came as quite a surprise to me back in May to learn that concerns about my campaign had been reported to the police.

“Evidently, since the independent police investigation into my campaign found the details as reported to them were in fact not the case.

“I welcome their conclusion therefore that neither my agent nor I committed any offences.

“As a Member of Parliament, I always sought to be accessible and accountable to the public. All those they elect should expect to come under such scrutiny; our parliamentary democracy can ultimately be stronger for it.”

The investigation into Ms Donelan was also dropped last month.