The Conservative Party secured nearly £12.4 million in large cash donations in the three months leading up to the general election.

According to figures published on Tuesday the Tories secured twice the amount donated to Labour and more than 13 times the amount given to the Liberal Democrats between April and June.

Topping the list of donors was Sir Paul Getty, who poured £5 million into Tory HQ. The spread-betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler donated nearly £2.5 million, the Electoral Commission revealed.

Other large Conservative donors included Norbrook Laboratories, a firm owned by Irish millionaire Edward Haughey, which donated £1 million during the period. Haughey also donated more than £100,000 in the form of transport for senior party figures.

Other donors included the lyricist Sir Tim Rice (£8500) and the theatre impresario Cameron Macintosh (£10,000).

Amongst the corporate donors were Flowidea Ltd (£60,000), property company Wates (£10,000) and the cereal company Weetabix (£10,000).

The Tories also received nearly £900,000 of taxpayers cash through the system of "Short money".

Under new rules the party had to return over £20,000 in donations which did not meet the strict criteria laid down in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.

Tory HQ said the figures showed that the party had been able to broaden the sources of its funding.

The party's acting chairman and chief executive, David Prior, said: "At a time when there is much cynicism about participation in the political process, the success of getting more people to donate to the Conservative Party shows the strength and commitment to Conservative principles and values."

On top of the figures released on Tuesday, the Conservatives also secured more than £2 million in small donations from over 3000 donors.

The party's financial turnaround owed much to the work of the treasurer, Lord Ashcroft, Prior said. "We are particularly grateful to Lord Ashcroft for his work in bringing our fundraising activities up to date and increasing the number of small donors," he said.

Labour fared less well during the period - securing £5.3 million. Unions continued to provide the backbone of the party's finances.

The Communications Workers Union donated more than £1 million to Labour over the three month period.

The GMB union, which recently voted to reduce its contribution to Labour in protest at the government's public sector plans, handed over nearly £500,000.

The TGWU, which has also been critical of Labour's second-term agenda, gave just over £100,000 to the party's election warchest.

Private donors included Labour peer Lord Haskins who gave the party £10,000 and the millionaire Sir Alan Sugar who bankrolled the party to the tune of £200,000.

The Lib Dems secured £840,000 in donations of over £5000 during the three month period.