Councillors were ticked off for defying a smoking ban and lighting up in a council chamber.

Four members of Oxford City Council lit cigarettes when a proposal to bring back a smoking room at Oxford Town Hall was lost.

Liberal Democrat councillors Bob Hoyle and Phil Cockayne were joined in the protest by Labour members Sarah Margetts and Carole Roberts.

Cllr Elise Benjamin (Green), who said she has sensitive sinuses, walked out of the chamber to avoid the cigarette smoke and urged the smokers not to repeat their behaviour.

She said: "What happened was inconsiderate and childish. Those people who did light up infringed the civil liberties of the non-smokers and I would urge them not to do it again."

She was backed by Labour group leader Cllr Alex Hollingsworth.

He said: "I do smoke myself but I know when and where it is appropriate.

"A policy on smoking has been implemented which removed all the smoking rooms. Human resources staff are also offering help to employees who want to give up.

"I think it is important in a public arena like a council meeting that all councillors behave courteously to one another and to members of the public."

But Cllr Margetts said: "It's a waste of time to have to go outside for a cigarette. A smoking room would help us to be more efficient as councillors."

Smoking is only allowed in the Town Hall at the civic information point on the ground floor, on the first-floor landing and in the council chamber corridor.