Met spent £35,000 to find out time

Britain's biggest police force spent more than £35,000 on 110,000 calls to the speaking clock over the last two years, figures have shown.

The Metropolitan Police also spent more than £200,000 calling directory inquiries, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "There are clearly evidential and operational reasons for officers and staff requiring the exact time and contact details."

The Met spent a total of £16,879 calling the speaking clock, at 31p a call, in 2010-11 down from £18,402 the previous year.