KENT MP Paul Clark has insisted there was nothing wrong about enjoying a game of croquet with the Deputy Prime Minister at his grace and favour mansion while Mr Prescott was in charge of the Government.

The Gillingham MP, who is Mr Prescott’s private parliamentary secretary – or official "bag carrier" – was among a group of aides to the Deputy Prime Minister who were playing croquet on the lawns of Dorneywood while Mr Blair was out of the country on official business last week.

Pictures of Mr Prescott relaxing at his mansion playing the game were published by the Mail on Sunday under the banner headline: "Prescott at Work."

The Kent Labour MP admitted he was among those who had spent Thursday afternoon with Mr Prescott on what his office claimed was a departmental "away day".

Mr Clark said: "We are just restructuring the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, taking on new responsibilities and, as many departments do, we have away days to be able to concentrate on the issue."

Asked to justify the game of croquet, he said: "We are allowed to have a lunch break."

The Mail on Sunday reported how Mr Prescott and his officials relaxing and playing croquet for nearly an hour before gathering for a picnic.

The story and images drew a withering response from the Tories.

Shadow cabinet spokesman Chris Gayling said: "If John Prescott hasn’t got anything better to do than play croquet at Dorneywood when the Commons was sitting, he really has got a non-job."