A cashier has been charged and another arrested following claims a large quantity of cash had been stolen from bank customers.

Ruth Dale, 48, and Lynne Harvey, 51, have been sacked from the Alliance and Leicester in Western Road, Brighton.

Police are investigating whether they are connected to the disappearance of customers' money.

Officers are looking into reports money deposited by customers has been illegally transferred into another account over a number of months.

It has been reported the cashiers were dismissed after somebody complained money had gone missing from an account.

Police last night revealed Ms Dale, of Cecil Road, Lancing, had been charged on suspicion of theft. She appeared before a court last month and was released on bail.

Police also said Ms Harvey, of Kipling Close, Woodingdean, had been arrested on suspicion of theft but had not been charged.

She has been released on bail while officers continue with the investigation.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Two people have been arrested, one of them has been charged.

"There is an investigation ongoing and we cannot say any more."

An Alliance and Leicester customer, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked two of the branch's cashiers were under investigation. She said: "I have been banking here for years and I'm surprised this is going on because I have never suspected anything untoward.

"I have always found the service friendly and efficient. Money has certainly never gone missing from my account."

Speaking from the doorstep of her home, Ms Harvey said: "I have been sacked and I am under police investigation but I don't want to say any more."

Ms Dale was not available for comment.

The Alliance and Leicester branch, is used by thousands of people in the city.

A spokesman said: "We carried out an investigation into irregularities and two employees were dismissed as a result. We cannot comment any further."

Alliance and Leicester also has branches in London Road in Brighton, Church Road in Hove and Station Road, Portslade.

There are numerous other branches across East and West Sussex.

The bank is one of the largest in Britain, offering current and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, mortgages and insurance.