A survey sent out ahead of this summer’s general election has cost Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies more than £5,000.

The residents’ survey, that sought opinions on various topics, was sent to 7,500 homes using House of Commons stationery and pre-paid envelopes - a week after PM Theresa May had called the snap general election.

Conservative Mr Davies, who has admitted a breach of the code of conduct for MPs, said the survey had been prepared before the surprise general election.

But he has agreed to repay the £5,037.90 cost for the stationery, printing and postage.

The MP said he believed rules on sending out such mailshots at election times should be clarified.

He said: "I have sent out several publications since being an MP, all of which were accepted as within the rules by the commissioner. It just so happened that the survey I planned for the spring of 2017 was interrupted by the announcement, by Theresa May, of an early general election.

"I fully accept the judgement and have agreed to repay the cost of the envelopes and stationery to the House of Commons for the survey in question."

The Brecon and Radnorshire Lib Dems accused Mr Davies – who took the seat from the party at the 2015 general election and increased his majority to more than 8,000 in June – of being careless with public money.

A spokesman said: "This latest act, using public money for his own political advantage, is further evidence of his careless approach to spending his constituents’ money.

"He seems to have no problem taking public money, yet time and time again supports his government slashing funding to vital services."

Summarising her report the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Hudson, said: "I found that the member had sent out a mailshot to 7,500 recipients (comprising a survey and covering letter) one week after the decision to dissolve Parliament was taken.

"I found that he could reasonably have foreseen that responses to the survey would not arrive in time for him to make use of them for parliamentary purposes, before he ceased to be a Member on the Dissolution of Parliament on 3 May 2017.

"I also found that the content of the letter, was likely to be read as party political, given its timing, and that the two components of the mailshot served to increase awareness of his name as the incumbent MP ahead of the imminent General Election.

"The Member accepted my decision, acknowledged and apologised for his breach of the Code of Conduct and agreed to refund the cost of the misused stationery to the House authorities.

"I considered that to be an appropriate resolution and concluded

the matter using the rectification procedure."