PERFORMERS are being told not to hog the Brighton station piano.

Southern rail put a sign on the piano yesterday morning asking people not to play it for more than an hour at a time.

The notice said: “We love you playing our piano but can we request that your playing time is limited to one hour so that other passengers have a chance to ‘tinkle the ivories’ too.”

The brightly decorated red and yellow piano was locked shut last week after someone snatched its stool and musicians found it hard to play with nowhere to perch.

Music shop Brighton Piano Warehouse – which donated the instrument in July and ensures it is tuned – lamented the loss and appealed for its safe return.

The Argus joined others in urging the thief to bring back the stool and on Wednesday night a replacement seat was put in place.

The piano was opened and musicians immediately took to the concourse, filling the station with tinkling tunes.

But the sign quickly appeared the next morning.

Brighton Piano Warehouse manager Gemma Prior-Shooter said: “We were hoping the original stool would be returned, and we still hope it will be. But in the meantime we have provided another stool. We hope this one won’t get stolen. We are really grateful for everyone’s offers of help and support.”

She said she was not aware of the signs and that this was something Southern had displayed on the piano previously.

A Southern spokeswoman said no complaints had been made about performers spending too much time playing the piano.

“The station staff displayed the sign to make sure everyone gets a fair go. They just thought it would be a good idea. But it’s not a strict policy.”

The company previously reported the theft of the stool to Brighton Transport Police but so far there has been no progress in the investigation.

The communal piano was suggested by Labour parliamentary candidate for Hove Peter Kyle after taking inspiration from the piano in St Pancras International station in London.