Wealden MP Charles Hendry has been hailed one of Parliament's fastest faxers - with Hastings' Michael Foster one of the least reliable.

Not-for-profit web site FaxYourMP.com sent more than 10,000 faxes from constituents to MPs between April and September, to test how often they responded within 14 days.

Conservative Mr Hendry was one of 50 MPs to score a perfect 100 per cent, replying on time to all 14 he was sent.

Labour's Mr Foster only replied within 14 days to 22 per cent of his 23 faxes.

After Mr Hendry, the next highest Sussex MP was David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, with 84 per cent of 55 faxes.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames responded to 78 per cent (of 28 faxes), Brighton Kemp Town's Des Turner achieved 71 per cent (21), with Arundel and South Downs MP Howard Flight scoring 70 per cent (20).

East Worthing and Shoreham's Tim Loug- hton managed 69 per cent (13) and West Worthing's Peter Bottomley respon- ded to 67 per cent (15).

Horsham's Francis Maude and Chichester's Andrew Tyrie both scored 67 per cent - though Mr Maude received 12 faxes to Mr Tyrie's nine.

Hove's Ivor Caplin replied to 64 per cent of his 45 faxes, while Bexhill, Rother and Battle MP Gregory Barker managed 58 per cent (from 19) and Lewes MP Norman Baker scored 55 per cent (20). Bognor and Littlehampton's Nick Gibb replied promptly to four of his eight faxes.

Some 60 MPs had worse response rates than Mr Foster - including former Northern Ireland minister Peter Mandelson and Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who both scored 0 per cent.