YORK MP Hugh Bayley called today for a thorough explanation of York Minster's troubled finances.

His comments came after a former member of staff was reported to have claimed that thousands of pounds were spent on taking staff on expensive "junkets" in top hotels, while the cathedral ran up losses of half a million pounds a year.

The man also made allegations about the personal management style of the former Dean, the Reverend Raymond Furnell.

The retired Dean, now living in Suffolk, said today he was taking advice before deciding whether to take any action over the allegations, which he said would inevitably have an affect on him and were "very sad."

Minster sources strongly denied the junket claims, saying it was important for clergy to go away from York on retreats and conferences to discuss the future. "It would be impossible for them all to be held in York," said the source.

Mr Bayley said the Minster should give a full explanation of how it came to be in its present financial situation.

"I think it is for the Church to do it," he said. "It needs to tell the public and indeed everyone who has contributed to Minster funding what the situation is."

Dr Christopher Norton, a reader in medieval studies at York University and leading opponent of closure of the Minster library, also said there was need for an urgent inquiry into the state of the Minster's finances.

"How did they get into this mess? That's the question that many people are asking," he said. "Let's see the figures."

The former member of staff is reported to have alleged that on one occasion, when a fire exercise was organised at the Minster in 1996, the Dean had come out red-faced and "screaming and bawling."

Mr Furnell, while saying he would not comment on the allegations of past and present staff, insisted that while he had been irritated because the exercise was being held during Eucharist, the "screaming and bawling" claim was "nonsense."

Rob Marshall, spokesman for the Archbishop of York and for the Dean and Chapter, said today that he could not comment on personal allegations about the former Dean's management style.

"Dean Furnell is now in retirement and we wish him and his family a long and happy retirement," he said.

The Rev David Porter, former Rector of All Saints, said today Dean Furnell had been a "very powerful personality.. I think he was fair, but a lot of people were overawed by him."

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, June 17, 2003