London, Feb. 9 : The British Broadcasting Corporation spent an astounding 230 million pounds to pay salary to its stars last years.

Of the total spend on "artists, presenters, journalists and contributors", 70 million pounds were lavished on people with contracts worth more than 100,000 pounds a year.

But the corporation refuses to say who trousered the biggest pay packets, The Sun reports.

While BBC will publish the figures today, it has refused to say who trousered the biggest pay packets in order to avoid a public backlash.

In 2007, there was an outcry when chat host Jonathan Ross was revealed to have a three-year deal worth 18million pounds.

But the Conservatives are pushing for the BBC to release a list of its highest-paid stars.

Tories argue the public has a right to know how the BBC is spending their licence fees.

The new figures, for the 12 months to March 31 last year, also show 115 million pounds were spent on stars' deals worth under 50,000 pounds.

The remaining 45 million pounds was used for contracts worth between 50,000 pounds and 100,000 pounds.

Sources say that the total spend on talent is just 6.5 per cent of the BBC's total income from licence fees.