The Manx government has footed the bill for more than 1200 overnight stays in an Island hotel, for officers from Cheshire Constabulary conducting an inquiry here.

The total cost of accomodation for the Cheshire officers amounts to almost ?72,000.

A breakdown of costs for the three year inquiry has been given to Tynwald in a detailed written answer - which in itself took nine hours to prepare.

Marian Kenny reports:

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Douglas North MHK John Houghton asked for a detailed breakdown of the costs of hotel accomodation for officers from Cheshire.

The three year inquiry was ordered after it emerged bugging devices were used to moniotor conversations between lawyers and clients at Police headquarters for more than ten years.

There were fears hundreds of convictions would have to be re examined - the Chief Constable said the inquiry by of-island officers would be a "relentless" search for the truth.

We now know that the accomodation bill alone has involved around 1220 nights bed and breakfast the Hilton Hotel in Douglas.

And to add to that nine hours work by a staff member in the Manx constabulary in compiling the figures.