Accounts are being examined by the Charity Commission

England’s charity watchdog has opened up an investigation into The Captain Tom Foundation after it was revealed it spent more in costs than charitable donations.

It also emerged companies run by the fundraising hero’s daughter and son-in-law received cash from the foundation.

Moore became a national figure in 2020, at the age of 99, after he pledged to walk 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

He raised more than £33m for NHS charities and a charity was set up in his name before he died last year.

The foundation last week filed its accounts with the commission for its first year of operation, covering the year to the end of May 2021.

The accounts show that the charity had an income of £1.1m in its first year.

It gave out grants of £160,000 to four charities while spending more than £162,000 in management costs.

The financial statement also showed reimbursement costs of £16,097 paid to Club Nook Limited, a company run by Hannah Ingram-Moore, Capt Sir Tom's daughter.

These costs were for accommodation, security and transport relating to Capt Sir Tom "travelling around the UK to promote the charitable company".

Payments of £37,942 were also made to Maytrix Group Limited, a company run by Ingram-Moore and her husband, relating to photography, office rental, telephone and third-party consultancy costs.

"These costs were initially funded by Maytrix Group Limited on behalf of the charitable company, and reimbursed when sufficient funds were available," the financial statement said.

Expense payments of £1,686 were also made to Ms Ingram-Moore to cover "motor, post, subscription and travel costs.”

A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We have been in ongoing contact with the trustees of the Captain Tom Foundation on its set-up and governance arrangements and as part of this work will now assess the charity’s recently submitted accounts.”

A spokesperson for the Fundraising Regulator said: “The Fundraising Regulator has worked alongside both the Charity Commission for England and Wales and also the Information Commissioner’s Office to support the Captain Tom Foundation to develop the fundraising and governance of its organisation.

“As a newly established and high-profile charity, we advised the foundation of its regulatory obligations when it comes to fundraising so that the public’s confidence and trust in donating to charity is protected.

“In particular, we advised the foundation to make sure that the statements on its website about its fundraising accurately described its activity. The foundation was forthcoming and we are satisfied that our initial concerns have been satisfactorily resolved.”

Stephen Jones, chair of trustees for The Captain Tom Foundation, said: "As a young charity, we have been working closely with the Charity Commission since we launched, and we welcome their input following the publication of our recent audited annual accounts."