THE embattled Kiltwalk charity is under further pressure after it paid for senior staff members to go to New York, including its former chief executive.

Only twelve people participated in the New York sponsored walk, less than half the money raised was given to good causes, and a children's group in the city has not received the $5,000 it was promised.

John Wilson, a Central Scotland MSP, called on the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) to intervene.

The Kiltwalk was formed in 2011 to organise sponsored walks across Scotland and will stage its main event in Glasgow today.

However, some of the organisation's official partners quit recently amid claims they had not received all the money owed to them.

The Kiltwalk's latest accounts show that income in 2013 was £1.6million, but the value of grants came to £783,000.

Carey McEvoy, the charity's founder, resigned as chief executive following negative publicity about the body's financial stewardship.

The Kiltwalk is now facing questions about its "inaugural" event in New York in November last year, staged to raise cash for the charity.

Participants were charged a £395 "registration fee" and the minimum sponsorship required was £2,000, which covered the cost of the challenge and a lump sum for the Kiltwalk charity.

However, the charity also used its own budget to send staff to the US.

In August, McEvoy and another employee stayed four nights in the US, with the reason given for the ex-CEO's trip being that he wanted to "roll out" The Kiltwalk brand.

The charity sent three employees to the actual sponsored walk, which a spokeswoman said was necessary to "hold the event".

Marketing literature estimated that up to 60 sponsored fundraisers would take part in the event, which involved walking along the pavement in Manhattan, but the final number was 12.

Of the £23,976 raised, £11,924 was handed to charity and the balance was paid to tour operator Really Wild Challenges.

The charity's own flight and accommodation costs were separate.

The Kiltwalk also agreed a deal with the American Scottish Foundation, a body based in New York, to make a donation to Ronald McDonald House, which provides free accommodation to families who have a child in hospital.

However, the $5,000 has yet to be paid, which The Kiltwalk has explained by saying that "we are currently awaiting the bank information for them and have chased this numerous times".

The scrutiny of the New York trip follows criticism of The Kiltwalk paying for McEvoy to attend a sponsored fundraiser in Brazil during the World Cup last year.

Less than one third of the money raised was given to designated charities.

John Wilson, a Central Scotland MSP, said: "It is clear from the latest revelation that the administration of The Kiltwalk is out of control and it is time that the OSCR clamped down and ensured that the administration costs are proportionate to the money given to good causes."

A spokesperson for The Kiltwalk said: "Carey went to New York in August for a meeting with the American Scottish Foundation regarding the roll out of the Kiltwalk brand across the USA. A member of the event team went to plan the November event, while Carey met with more senior people in the organisation about potentially working with various Scottish organisations in the States. Three members of the Kiltwalk team went to the event in November. Carey was not one of them."

A spokeswoman for Ronald McDonald House said: "We've sent over our banking information today so that they might make the transfer."

The ASF did not respond to requests for comment.