BOLTON West Conservative MP Chris Green spent £2,190 on political advertising on Facebook in the past 12 months while the town's two Labour MPs spent nothing.

He said the use of social media was a 'modern and efficient' way of communicating with voters.

Bolton North-East Labour MP Sir David Crausby said that despite his doubts about using social media advertising he might pay for some in the current General Election campaign.

His Bolton South East Labour colleague Yasmin Qureshi said she would avoid it over her concerns about data harvesting and misinformation circulated on Facebook.

Both said they also lacked the money the Conservative Party had to spend on social media and preferred traditional door-to-door campaigning.

Mr Green's spending also includes less than £100 spent in the last week advertising the change of date of a public meeting at Horwich Loco Works.

His figure is one of the higher in the North-West although Pendle Tory MP and Foreign Office minister Andrew Stephenson racked up £2,482 while Labour MP for Bury North James Frith spent £1,517 on Facebook advertising in the last year.

Mr Green said: "Social media advertising is a proven way of connecting with people from all backgrounds right across the constituency. I believe its use is something other MPs should adopt.

"It is a modern, efficient way of connecting with constituents.

"I use it to advertise public meetings to people who would not read my Facebook page or website. It avoids using letters and leaflets which is good for the environment.

"However I shall be out campaigning on the doorstep, as I have been all year, and using more traditional methods in the coming weeks."

Ms Qureshi said: "I prefer more traditional methods of campaigning although I do have a Facebook page and website for those constituents who prefer it.

"I have grave doubts about data harvesting and misinformation. We do not have the money the Conservatives have for social media advertising."

Sir David said: "I prefer going out on the doorstep and meeting people. I think Twitter was right to ban political advertising and think Facebook should do the same.

"I did use social media advertising a bit in the last election campaign and may do so this time but I don't have the money for it the Tories have."