TEACUPS have been banned from a council chamber because the clinking of china is making meetings too difficult for the public to follow.

Pauline Hayward, the Conservative chairman of Wyre Forest District Council, made the decision after people sitting in the public gallery complained that debates were being drowned out.

A notice in an ante-room states that members can bring only glasses of water into the chamber and must remain outside if they want a tea or coffee break.

However, the ban extends only to full council meetings - held once every six weeks - which attract a public audience, and not committee meetings.

Ms Hayward said the decision to ban china from the council chamber was made in part to restore some "decorum".

"When you look down from the public gallery it looks more like a caf than a council chamber," she said.

"I have been a councillor for 21 years and I have to say that over the last couple of years there has been a lack of decorum, with people bringing cans and bottles into meetings.

"We expect our officers to behave with decorum, so why shouldn't we as councillors?

"There have been some complaints from councillors wanting to stir it up, but as far as I'm concerned it's a storm in a teacup."

James Shaw, leader of the Labour group on the council, said he and his colleagues found the ban "a rather trivial ruling".