A Tory MP is feeling a first class chump after falling for an April Fool's joke in a national newspaper.

Cambridge-educated Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing, was contacted by worried constituents after an article appeared in the Sunday Times saying the Royal Mail was taking the Queen's head off its stamps.

The establishment broadsheet was tickled pink with its spoof, which went on to say "Polo"-style stamps with holes were being introduced as a replacement to appeal to "feng shui enthusiasts."

Mr Loughton, who has been a powerful voice in the campaign against the closure of rural post offices, failed to see the funny side and too#k the matter straight to the top.

He fired off a written question to Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt demanding a full explanation.

Hansard, the official parliamentary record, documents Mr Loughton's exchange in an answer published on April 29.

It reads: "Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the policy of the Royal Mail on issuing stamps which do not include the Queen's head."

The answer was given by one of Patricia Hewitt's ministers, who responded: "These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Royal Mail and I have therefore asked the chairman to reply direct to the honourable member."

The chairman duly got in touch, informing Mr Loughton he had been taken for a ride.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said yesterday: "This was absolutely nothing to do with us - it was an April Fool by the Sunday Times. We can assure customers that the Queen's head will remain on stamps."

But Mr Loughton still sees the case, later highlighted by a delighted diary columnist in the Daily Telegraph, as no laughing matter.

He refused to comment to The Argus yesterday, saying only: "It is a complete non story."

It is not the first time the MP has hit the headlines in less than flattering circumstances.

Just before the last general election, Mr Loughton's back-handed defence of William Hague, in which he said the media had portrayed him as a "baldy with a funny accent", also caused titters among the opposition. Kemp Town MP Des Turner responded: "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"