A council in West Sussex has been told to remove all park benches from under trees because of an "absurd" health and safety regulation, an MP said.

Tory Henry Smith said Crawley Borough Council has been told the benches pose a health and safety risk to anyone who sits on them.

The ruling came to light this summer after Pound Hill Residents Association asked for permission to build a circular bench under a tree in a refurbished community garden but was told it would be in breach of health and safety guidelines.

Mr Smith (Crawley) said he thought there must have been a mistake after an over-zealous official misinterpreted the rules.

Speaking outside the Commons, he said: "They were told they couldn't have this circular bench around the tree because the council had been told they had to remove all park benches from underneath trees.

"In my view this is clearly absurd. There's a risk to everything, whether it's crossing the street or cooking in the kitchen. It just seems to me to be an extreme example of health and safety advice gone mad.

"It's too early to apportion blame but my concern is that some official has misinterpreted the advice and it has resulted in this bizarre ruling.

"I suspect it is the misinterpretation of advice rather than specific advice coming from the Health and Safety Executive."

In a question to new Commons Leader Andrew Lansley, he said: "Can I ask that consideration be given for a debate on over-zealous health and safety regulation?"

Mr Lansley replied: "I hope you will not be surprised to know that we in Government over these last two and a half years have been actively working to ensure common sense is at the heart of how we apply health and safety regulations – that it is evidence-based and proportionate."