Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman uses car to travel 500 yards

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman was pictured being ferried 500 yards from her £3 million London townhouse to her Westminster HQ.

A Tory spokesman claimed she used the chauffeur-driven car because her ministerial boxes were 'too heavy' to carry.

But the trips come just days after the Government declared its aim of saving £2.8million a year by encouraging Ministers to use public transport or walk whenever possible.

Mrs Spelman's 500 yard car journey came after she had enjoyed a 30-minute game of tennis on a private court in an exclusive London square.