It was a chance conversation on a train which has led to today's revelations.

Maidstone woman Kathy Harrigan was sitting in a carriage and overheard a discussion between KCC employees about how money was spent on taxis and hospitality.

Kathy Harrigan, a retired hospital administrator, was incensed by what appeared to be a less than frugal attitude towards how taxpayers' money was being spent.

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Intrigued and angered by what was being said, she made use of audit legislation allowing the public access to any council's invoices and receipts for a brief 20-day period each year.

She spent a week digging through files at County Hall, examining bills, invoices and receipts and compiling an extensive dossier, which she passed on to the KM to investigate - and we will be reporting our findings over the coming weeks.