Work on a controversial £250,000 scheme to refurbish a council chamber has been suspended after asbestos was discovered.

The blue asbestos was found by workmen stripping out panels in the council chamber at County Hall, Chichester.

West Sussex County Council says staff have not had to be moved and the public are not in any danger.

A spokeswoman said: "County Hall is still operating as normal and the council chamber had been hived off in any case because of the refurbishment."

A specialist company is being called in to remove the asbestos, which is rated as being potentially more dangerous to health than the white or brown variety.

The discovery will delay completion of the work and emergency arrangements have been made for the 71-strong county council to hold its July 26 meeting at Brinsbury College of Agriculture and Horticulture at Pulborough.

The refurbishment had already meant next Friday's council meeting will be held at the Assembly Rooms in Chichester.

The refurbishment of the council chamber came under fire in April when it was announced shortly after the council had voted to increase council tax bills by just under ten per cent.

The spokeswoman confirmed removing the asbestos was now expected to cost in the region of £25,000.

But she added: "This sum of money will come from a special fund which is already in existence and was set up to cover the cost of removing asbestos in cases where it was discovered in council property."

Experts believe the asbestos may have been behind the panels since the Thirties.

The work to the council chamber includes a new sound system and improved access for the disabled.

The council has defended its decision to spend the money, saying the facilities for meetings and seminars were out of date and needed to be modernised.

The spokeswoman added: "Things do wear out and have to be replaced at some stage."