A BIZARRE squabble over who sits where in a council chamber may have to be decided in court.

Conservative David Johnson sparked a row by demanding to sit with fellow Tory Oliver Blease during a town council meeting in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

He claimed he had been advised by a legal expert from the Local Government Association that to prevent him from doing so would violate his human rights.

Mayor Tom Burrows tried to calm things down, but the determined Tory decided to hold an impromptu sit-down protest. He occupied the seat and refused to budge.

The authority was only able proceed with the rest of the agenda when he suggested a compromise, which saw him moving to the gallery.

However, council rules meant, by sitting there, Councillor Johnson was unable to contribute to debate until the meeting was opened to questions from the public.

The row blew up because council rules state that seating arrangements must reflect the amount of time councillors have been on the authority, with the longest-serving members sitting towards the middle of the row facing the mayor's table.

However, an unrepentant Coun Johnson yesterday insisted he was making a stand on a matter of principle.

"Political groups have been a part of the council since 1974 and I don't see why I cannot sit next to a Conservative colleague," he said.

"I'm hoping the ruling Liberal Democrats will see sense - the whole thing could be sorted out in minutes if people were simply allowed to sit wherever they like," he said.

He warned he will take the matter to the courts if it cannot be resolved any other way.

If he wins, other councillors throughout the country would be able to sit where they like. It could mean rogue MPs sitting with the Government or the Opposition.

Faced with the threat of legal action, the council has agreed to re-examine the issue at the end of the year.