A Scottish Labour MP is under intense pressure to quit after his local publican flatly contradicted the MP's explanation of joinery work charged to the public purse, writes Paul Hutcheon.

Jim Devine directed £2326 from his office budget for joinery carried out by his friend Tony Moran, part of which was fitting 66 metres of heavy-duty shelving.

But when the Sunday Herald said no shelves were visible at Devine's Livingston office, the MP said they were for his second home in London.

Asked if he fitted shelving in Devine's London home, Moran said: "No."

Members of the MP's own party are now calling for police to investigate him for possible fraud over the shelving.

Labour members in Livingston are seeking signatures for a letter which, this newspaper has been told, will be handed to police tonight.

The letter states: "The seriousness of these allegations warrants a full police investigation. Hence, we wish to formally lodge a complaint of fraud and embezzlement against Jim Devine MP."

Devine was referred last week to Labour's special endorsements panel after a Sunday Herald investigation into his expenses.

He billed the taxpayer £2157 for "rewiring" work on his London second home, but the invoice supporting the repairs had a false VAT number, a sham postcode and a fictitious address.

Devine said he paid the tradesman in cash, then the electrician put an invoice under the door of his London flat.

Party bosses are also said to be concerned about the £2326 of "joinery" work Devine says he directed to Moran.

Asked to explain the joinery work, Moran said: "It was originally going to be in the office in Livingston, but there was no way it was going to fit in the office."

He then denied fitting the shelves in Devine's London home - in stark contrast to the MP's explanation.

Devine told his local newspaperlast week: "Tony is a personal friend of mine whom I have known for 35 years and has done joinery work for me in the past. He replaced and repaired floorboards and also put up shelving."

Devine's local councillors have already called on him to stand down as an MP.

Devine did not return calls.