Department for Environment officials slammed for spending over £62,000 on domestic flights last year

ECO government officials spent £62,321 to send staff on heavily polluting domestic flights last year.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) demand Brits cut pollution for a “cleaner and healthier environment”.

Sian Berry has slammed Defra officials for taking domestic flights

But figures show staff boarded 716 domestic flights last year for conferences, meetings or events reachable by train. They included £457 returns from Heathrow to Newcastle, and a £334 single from London to Aberdeen.

Campaigners slammed their use of planes. Green Party co-leader Sian Berry said: “The rank hypocrisy of being responsible for the climate while at the same time flying around the UK for journeys clearly reachable by public transport is sadly no surprise from this Government.”

The details emerged from a Sun on Sunday freedom of information request.

A government spokesman said most journeys are taken by train, but “flights are sometimes necessary”.

They added: “We are committed to getting value for money for taxpayers by minimising costs and ensuring we use the greenest means of travel where possible.”