'Plebgate' inquiry has cost £144k

Scotland Yard's inquiry in to the "Plebgate" row, which led to Andrew Mitchell resigning as chief whip, has cost an estimated £144,000 so far.

The costs, disclosed in a letter from a senior police officer to Home Affairs Select committee chairman Keith Vaz, comes as detectives probe claims that police may have lied about the dispute.

So far 740 statements have been taken and seven police officers interviewed, as well as one member of the public cautioned. Mr Mitchell denies that he called officers "plebs" when they refused to let him leave Downing Street on his bike through the main gate last September.