A listed building used for council meetings for 175 years has been abandoned because it is a fire hazard.

Brighton and Hove City Council has been banned from holding full meetings in Brighton Town Hall's council chamber following fears it falls short of tough new safety rules.

The town hall, in Bartholomew Square, was built in 1830 and provides offices for 200 city council workers.

An assessment of fire regulations due to be introduced in the next few months has led to the ruling that the absence of proper fire doors would present a danger to members in the event of a blaze.

The council is reluctant to simply rip out and replace the antique doors to keep the building in use.

Council meetings involving more than 60 people, including a full council meeting on May 4, will be moved to Hove Town Hall until further notice.

The decision has prompted fresh calls to consider selling the building, which costs taxpayers £150,000 a year to run.

Green Party convenor Keith Taylor said: "We should consider all options, including what other uses can be made of this building. If it's no longer fit for purpose we need to think about other uses."

Brian Oxley, finance spokesman for the Conservatives, said rather than selling the town hall, the council should concentrate on making it safe.

He said: "It's an historic building and an important part of the community."

Labour council leader Simon Burgess said getting rid of the town hall was "not on the agenda".

Instead, the council is investigating how it can bring the building into line with the new regulations.

Coun Burgess said: "Our intention is to bring it back into use but at the moment, it is not safe and so for the next few months, we are not going to meet there.

"It's an historic building and deserves to be looked after properly to make sure it's fit for function."

The council is working with fire officers to see how much work is needed.