Is it ok for a gas hob to try to ignite when only the oven is switched on?

I have a cannon pearl duo mode oven which is gas powered with an electrical ignition built in. When I switch the oven on but leave the hobs switched off sometimes one of the hobs tries to ignite repeatedly and sporadically until it eventually stops some times seconds some times minutes later. It is a fairly old oven at least five years old as it was in the house when I moved in. Other than this it is in good working order. Is it safe to leave it like this or does it need fixing/ replacing etc.

andy
August 2009