Flower beds have been banned from Epping High Street because they are considered too dangerous.

A new seating area is to be installed on the piazza outside the Costa coffee shop. And at a meeting of town councillors last week, it was suggested it incorporated flower beds.

But after some discussion, members decided the blooms would be too dangerous - because people might trip over them.

After the piazza was built, members of the public tripped over bollards which protruded from the paved area and councillors were worried flower beds would cause the same problems.

Councillor Ken Avey said: "People used to fall over the bollards which we had to remove and we wouldn't want the same with flower beds."

Deputy mayor Janet Hedges added: "We have to be very careful. Flower beds would look nice but there's no point having something where people are going to have accidents, especially on a Monday when the market is there. People will walk backwards and trip over them. They don't look where they are going.

"I think three benches will be lovely and shouldn't cause any problems with people falling over them if they are very close together. I think people will notice a bench, but they wouldn't necessarily see a flower bed."

Councillor Alan Warner suggested flowers could be incorporated into the seating plan to make it more attractive, but the council voted against the idea and it was rejected.

Mrs Hedges said: "I do think it's a shame that we can't have flowers. But people will trip over anything, you'd be surprised."