A game of musical chairs is going on at Abingdon Town Council.

Thirty leather chairs used in the council chamber at the Guildhall have been taken out of public use after a health and safety scare -- and now the council is to carry out a safety check.

A leg broke on two of the chairs, the joints have worked loose on some, while the seats sag in others.

Abingdon Bridge Club said the chairs were uncomfortable and believed they contributed to backache suffered by some members who use the club for their weekly session.

As a result of complaints, the Guildhall owners, the Vale of White Horse District Council, decided to remove all the chairs.

But that move has upset town councillors who want the furniture restored to the council chamber.

Fifteen chairs were back in use for councillors at their meeting but, in the public area, modern fabric upholstered seats were in place.

Cllr Mike Badcock said: "Taking all the chairs out of use is going a bit far. The chairs belong in the council chamber because they were made specially when the room was refurbished back in the 1930s.

"They fit the room and should be returned. The new, modern chairs are totally out of place."

Council leader Julie Mayhew-Archer agreed and said: "We will do all we can to get them back in public use and may have to spend money on repairing them."

The chairs were last refurbished in 1956, when the Queen visited Abingdon.

Vale of White Horse technical officer Steve Rich said: "We'll get in a furniture maker to carry out a thorough examination of the chairs and then we'll take it from there.

"I believe the chairs are more than 60 years old and are not ergonomically designed like modern chairs.

"If there were concerns about public safety, then I can understand the district council's decision to remove all the chairs from public use."

The district council's leisure facilities manager, Chris Webb, said: "We received complaints from several organisations who use the chairs.

"Two chairs had broken legs and some people told us they were uncomfortable after several hours and complained about sprains, strains and aches.

"We have to be aware of health and safety issues and maintain safety for the public."

Abingdon Bridge Club chairman Ray Ball said: "The chairs are most uncomfortable and the seats sag. After a few hours our members were complaining of backache.

"The modern chairs are much better."