WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier has received thousands of pounds worth of free gifts – including a four-day trip to the Middle East paid for by a Sheikh – it has been revealed.

The £3,500 visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi,which included flights, was paid for by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan.

Mr Garnier, who declared the trip in the Register of Members' Financial Interests, visited the cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from March 30 to April 4.

He met Government ministers, members of the Federal National Council, businesses and UK diplomats, to build relationships and promote trade and investment.

Mr Garnier wrote about the trip in his weekly column in The Shuttle when he returned, in which he said his number one priority had always been to tackle the local economy in Wyre Forest.

It was also revealed in the register that the MP received two tickets, costing £1,924, for the British Grand Prix in July from the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association.

Mr Garnier also visited RFA Waveruler Atlantic Patrol and the £999 bill was paid for by the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

He also received £75 for a 25- minute survey conducted by Populus but donated the cash to charity.

Private donor Graham Silk also donated £7,000 to the MP for his constituency party.

Last year, The Shuttle reported that Mr Garnier had received gifts of two tickets to attend the Chelsea Flower Show and a Conservative fund-raiser black and white ball, which were also declared.

He said at the time he had done “nothing wrong” and had turned down hundreds of invitations offered to him since becoming an MP.