The BBC has been left red-faced after it emerged some staff have been overpaid by ￡1million a year.

       New figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show the broadcaster accidentally paid workers more than ￡4m over the last four years.

       Staffers paid monthly are having the cash taken from their wages, but the broadcaster has opted not to pursue repayment from others.

       Over the past five years, the BBC has reportedly written off 492 cases, costing licence-fee payers ￡522,000. Some have reportedly walked away with up to ￡10,000 in extra wage payments.

       Separate figures show 86% of overpayments made over the last five years have been reclaimed by the broadcaster.

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       Rebecca Ryan, Campaign Director at Defund the BBC, told the Express the broadcaster has a "shockingly bad" record on financial waste.

       She said: "The BBC treats the British public with utter contempt when it bullies us into paying and then spaffs the money up the wall.

       "Whilst it's good that they are recouping the money now, we all know that the BBC's record on financial waste is shockingly bad - from mass staff jollies to Glastonbury, to eye-watering salaries for blowhards like Gary Lineker.

       "It's time we cut Auntie's apron strings and made the BBC stand on her own feet financially."

       Joanna Marchong, Investigations Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said taxpayers will be shocked at the "blundering bean-counters at the Beeb" who have allowed hundreds of thousands of pounds of licence fee payers money into the pockets of undeserving employees.

       She told the Telegraph: "With the licence fee increasing in price at the same time that the system becomes ever more outdated, it is absolutely vital that bosses at the broadcaster protect every penny as if it was their last.

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       "BBC bosses should ensure that they push every case to the maximum and put in place more robust controls to stop it happening in the first place."

       A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC is committed to ensuring accuracy of its payroll process and the payments to its employees.

       "We make more than 300,000 payments to permanent and temporary staff every year, and overpayments are extremely rare occurring in just 0.24% of payments.

       "Overpayments can occur as a result of payroll changes or when employment ceases. As is common within the industry, there is a high turnover of contract workers processed through the payroll and also people engaged on fixed-term contracts.

       "In cases where overpayments do occur, the BBC takes action to recover the funds. Many of the cases where overpayments have not yet been recovered in full are subject to ongoing repayment plans."