Nine black, plastic benches have been installed below the Memorial Gardens in front of City Hall this week for shoppers to eat and drink at.

These have replaced six wood and metal benches which were installed in early 2017 and deemed to be unhygienic by council bosses.

Nine new benches have been installed at the top of Norwich Market (Image: Newsquest) But their installation has divided opinion and been branded both a benefit for the area and "a waste of money".

Two people enjoying their lunch in the gardens said: "I think the new benches are great.

"People can buy their food and sit down to eat when before there was nowhere to sit."

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The new benches are made from recycled plastic which is black in colour and described as weatherproof, rot-proof and low maintenance. The council spent around £10,000 on them.

"I do think the black is a boring colour," the couple qualified.

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© Norwich Evening News