Following a bid by opposition parties to sabotage it, a debate on the Welsh assembly's seating arrangements appears unlikely to go ahead.

The Labour administration had tabled a one-hour motion aimed at allowing its assembly members to sit on one side of the chamber.

But amid fears that the debate could last for up to 12 hours, and claims and counter-clams of "ridiculous" behaviour, it appeared that the debate could be put off until after the summer recess.

At present the Labour members are seated in the middle of the Cardiff Bay building, with opposition parties on either side.

The party claims this allows its opponents to read confidential papers over the shoulders of its members.

In protest at a debate they feared could damage the assembly's reputation, opposition parties tabled more than 800 amendments to a motion on the seating plan.

It was hoped that the possible length of the debate would prompt Labour into withdrawing its motion.

But as the row grew there were moves to avoid the embarrassing debate.

"We have been here for four years and there have been other issues like this," said Andrew Davies, the assembly's economic development minister.

"There is a lot of fuss being made about something that is froth. The same thing happens in parliament. We have a new institution so people have to dig.

"But a lot of other ridiculous issues happen in other legislatures. This is just part of democracy."

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne expressed hope that the issue would be resolved without a debate at all.

"I hope this debate won't actually happen," he said.

"It won't do the assembly any good. We are on the brink and I hope we can pull back and say 'let's have a look at this. What are the real concerns?."

AMs were to debate bizarre amendments including allowing an assembly member celebrating a birthday to sit in a certain seat.

As a result, the debate could have lasted as long as 12 hours.

With Labour having a controlling majority of one, its members would need to stay in Cardiff Bay for all the votes.

Plaid Cymru had accused the party of bringing the assembly into disrepute.

"The government's determination to go ahead with this is crazy," said business manager Jocelyn Davies.

"Since the election this government has cut the number of committee sessions in the assembly, a decision which limits scrutiny time, and failed to present a work programme on health, jobs and education.

"Now they want to play musical chairs."