More than 90 per cent of Oxford Mail readers who took part in an online poll believe the seats in Cornmarket are a "waste of money".

Out of 316 people who took part in a poll on our website, 285 said the controversial benches were not worth the money spent on them. Just 31 voters thought they were an "asset" to Oxford.

The sets of eight-seat benches made of granite, timber and stainless steel, were installed as part of the city and county council scheme to re-pave the street.

There was outrage when it was revealed that the cost of the seating had escalated to £240,000. The bill for the Cornmarket scheme as a whole is now £5m -- almost double the original estimate of £2.7m.

The seats were designed to be deliberately uncomfortable to stop people sitting on them too long and to prevent homeless people sleeping on them. Since they were unveiled last month, the Oxford Mail letters page has been inundated with comments from readers, who describe the benches as uncomfortable, unsightly, eyesores and a potential "world-infamous icon of municipal incompetence".

Keith Brooks, of Horspath, Oxford, was surprised that as many as 10 per cent of voters describe the seats as an "asset" in the poll.

He said: "I just cannot understand how they could cost so much. A lot of people have spoken to me after reading my letters in the Oxford Mail and all of them agreed these seats are a waste of money."

The leaders of the county and city councils have agreed to conduct a joint investigation into the multi-million cost of the scheme. Colin Cook, the city council's executive member for planning, conceded that the seats were not good value for money, and blamed the county council for the inflated bill.

David Robertson, the county council's executive member for transport, questioned the reliability of the online poll. He said: "Obviously we're interested in the survey results but generally people who put forward a view are people with committed opinions."