BEEB bosses have splashed out on a lavish refurbishment of the South Today TV studios – but presenters like Sally Taylor may have to go barefoot.

The Daily Echo understands that the new look set cost £180,000 but high heels could damage the plush new black painted flooring so they have been banned.

Designers have also brought back a desk for lead presenter Ms Taylor to sit behind although a sofa area will also remain. The set, which goes live on Monday, will look more like the national news.

Insiders have told the Daily Echo that much of the cost of the new studio will be down to a big extended screen running behind the set. A source said: “You’d think for £180K they could afford carpet.”

The BBC has refused to confirm how much the revamp has cost licence fee payers claiming it was commercially confidential. Last night public spending watchdogs slammed the secret spending. It comes as £834,000 a year BBC director general Mark Thompson recently launched a consultation on wide-ranging cuts, designed to save the corporation £600m. Popular radio stations BBC 6 Music and Asian Network are facing closure.

Emma Boon, campaign manager of The TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s disgraceful that the BBC – who were among the most vociferous critics of MPs’ expenses – is trying to keep secret how it’s spending licence fee payers’ money.

“The viewing public are not being told where their money is going.

“The public expects their money to go towards good quality programming and broadcasting excellence, not gadgets and sofas.”

A BBC spokesman refused to confirm how much was being spent because the revamp related to the BBC’s “creative output”.

She said: “The South Today set with a new look will have a similar feel to Network news. The set hasn’t been refurbished for nearly a decade and so we’re carrying out long overdue work in the studio including replacing the floor.”

The Daily Echo has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for details of the costs of the studio works.