STRICT expenses rules could be introduced by county council bosses in the wake of Lord Hanningfield's latest arrest.

Legal experts at Essex County Council have asked councillors to rubber-stamp a series of changes to the existing allowances scheme.

The changes, which form part of a wider overhaul of the council's legal rules, will be presented to the full council meeting on October 17.

If approved, the alterations will ban politicians from paying for meals, drinks or other forms of hospitality unless there are “exceptional circumstances”.

Councillors would also be required to sign off their responsibility for each expenses claim, making it easy for police to seek a prosecution if it later emerges they are inaccurate.

Tom Smith-Hughes, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at County Hall, said the changes were needed to restore the council's battered reputation.

“We have a situation at the moment where the public do not trust us,” he said.

“We need to do what we can to correct that.”