THE London Assembly's audit panel has called for stricter guidelines to govern the taxi expenses claimed by members, following the controversy consistently stoked by Brian Coleman.

Navin Shah, the chairman of the panel insisted yesterday that assembly members need to start "practicing what they preach" and suggested more rigorous rules governing taxi expenses.

Mr Shah said: "We do feel extremely unhappy and aggrieved at the level of taxi expenses clocked up by Brian consistently."

Mr Coleman, the assembly member for Barnet and Camden, has repeatedly attracted criticism for his substantial taxi expenses.

He is also a Barnet councillor, cabinet member and is set to become the borough's mayor, sending his overall allowances through the £100k barrier.

Mr Coleman said: "I think this is the usual muck-raking nonsense."