Lengthy debates on phone masts may not be the staple of most stand-up routines but a council committee has fallen foul of a comedy stalwart - the heckler.

For the last few months Brighton and Hove City Council's planning application sub-committee has been plagued by an increasingly noisy group of people who boo, cheer and shout during meetings.

Keen to get the smooth running of the meetings back under control, the chairman of the committee, Councillor Bob Carden, has issued the decree: "Keep quiet or leave."

Coun Carden said: "By far the majority of people attending the committee are respectful and well-behaved.

"But there is a small vociferous minority who constantly heckle officers, committee members and public speakers.

"This is unfair on those who have come to listen to the outcome of their planning application and slows up the meeting.

"We will therefore be asking people to leave the room if they interrupt or shout out at speakers."

Coun Carden is keen to nip the problem in the bud before the rowdy bunch get out of hand.

He said: "A couple of people who regularly come to meetings are getting a little over the top - catcalling and making derogatory comments. It was increasing slightly every time.

"I felt it was time to call a halt to it. A lot of ordinary people come to the meetings and it's not fair to them if a small group stop them hearing the debate.

"I'm appealing for these people to play the game."

However, other councillors feel the chairman is going too far and that heckling can liven up meetings.

Coun Geoff Wells said: "I don't think it's a problem. It's not something I find impossible to handle - sometimes it can be a little jovial.

"If it gets out of hand, you have to put your foot down but having a jibe from the public gallery is all part of democracy.

"The problems come from one or two people who turn up at every meeting. Banning heckling is petty. It can be a lot worse at full council meetings."