International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has ordered a review of the work of the Commonwealth Development Corporation after reports of lavish expenses claims.

A government spokesman said Mr Mitchell thought the claims were "unacceptable".

It came after the Daily Mail claimed it had seen large restaurant, hotel and taxi bills from CDC officials, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

A spokesman for the CDC said the report included many mistakes.

The CDC, which is owned but not run by the Department for International Development, helps provide finance to businesses in some of the poorest parts of the world.

But a CDC spokesman said the story contained mistakes and a £300 claim for a taxi from Brussels to Paris was made because flights were halted by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland.