Leicester City Council is considering whether to ban the use of social networking site Twitter in the council chamber.

The site allows people to post 140-character text updates from their mobile phone, and it is often used by councillors, journalists and the public at monthly full council meetings.

But Labour chief whip Barbara Potter told Thursday's meeting that Twitter should not be "allowed or tolerated" in the chamber.

Several councillors and members of the public had been exchanging messages during the three-hour meeting.

A spokesman for the city council said yesterday it was an "interesting point" which the council was considering.

But Coun Potter says she is confident that Labour members will be banned from using the service in time for next month's meeting.

She also said she would also be urging opposition groups to order their members to stop using the service during meetings.

She said: "Twitter is disruptive and I've had several complaints from other members that it should not be allowed in the chamber.

"I've sought legal advice from the council over whether we can ban its use in the chamber.

"I understand that it would be difficult to ban members of the public and the press from using it under current legislation, but I'm working to stop members of the council from using it."

Coun Potter added: "I'm hoping to have a ruling passed by the Labour group to this effect."

Labour's Colin Hall, one of the authority's most active Twitter users, said: "We've had complaints in the past about both blog and Twitter posts, and it's something that will be looked at by the local Labour group next week."

Rules on council meetings were laid down in 1972, and people can be banned from allowing outside individuals to see or hear a meeting. Text updates do not appear to be covered by the act.

Council leader Veejay Patel refused to rule out the possibility of banning Twitter in council meetings.

He said: "We will continue to comply with legislation at meetings of the council."

But Conservative group leader Ross Grant, who also uses Twitter, said: "If MPs can use Twitter in Prime Minister's Questions, then I will continue to do so at meetings of the city council."

Plymouth City Council banned its councillors from using the service during meetings last summer.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has previously encouraged councillors to use Twitter during meetings, to help get more people interested in local government. And Conservative leader David Cameron told frontbench Labour MPs to "put their blackberries away" during his reply to the Budget on Wednesday.

Since its creation in 2006, Twitter has gained notability and popularity worldwide.

Because of its simplicity, it has become widely used in politics and political protests.