CAFE owners in Newport have slammed the city council who insist they must remove tables and chairs outside their premises or face prosecution.

Angela Roberts of the Pot in Newport Arcade and Tony Rabaiotti of the Burlington Diner said they have been warned by police to move the furniture as they are breaching their terms of licence.

Ms Roberts says her chairs have been there for several decades and have never caused a problem in the past.

As a number of shops have closed already in the Arcade, she fears people may assume the cafe is closed without the tables outside.

She said: "It's only in the winter that this has come up - how can they be a health and safety risk at one time of the year and not at another?

"It was annoying to think the police were wasting their time this way."

Despite being contacted by the council in October and receiving a visit from a council officer in December, she is adamant she will not move the four tables and ten chairs.

Mr Rabaiotti, owner of the Burlington Diner in Upper Dock Street, said police visited and asked to remove his three tables and nine chairs just before Christmas.

Although he has since moved the tables, he is now consulting with his solicitor to come to an arrangement with the council.

He added: "I'm disgusted. There are plenty of other businesses in the town centre who use their frontages to do trading."

A council spokesman said that premises are only allowed to have tables and chairs outdoors during the summer under their licence and that police action may be taken.

Police confirmed a number of premises were visited in December 2007 by the Gwent police licensing officer, following consultation with the council.

He said: "Premise owners were advised of their obligations under the Highways Act and under the terms of the licence.

"At this stage no prosecutions are pending."