Police are investigating a letting agent who suddenly shut up shop owing landlords, tenants and contractors thousands of pounds.

The Argus revealed on Wednesday how Youngs Owen letting agency in Western Road, Hove, closed without warning, facing huge debts.

Claims against the firm known to The Argus add up to £49,550.

Fourteen claimants have now reported the firm to Sussex Police, which is investigating whether it should be a criminal or civil matter. A force spokesman said: "We are making inquiries about the status of the company."

Keith Youngs, 28, who founded Youngs Owen with his sister Yvonne Youngs in 2001, closed the office on Thursday last week.

Several landlords who let properties through the firm came forward to tell The Argus how rent collected on their behalf had not been passed on.

Tenants have also been unable to reclaim their deposits and contractors are owed for work, while magazines, including Latest Homes, say the firm owes money for advertising.

Mr Youngs, of St John's Road, Hove, contacted The Argus earlier this week to promise the office would reopen and no-one would be left out of pocket.

He is expected to instruct Sheffield-based insolvency practice Wilson Field to start liquidation proceedings. A poster on the office window refers all inquiries to the liquidators, although the address given is innaccurate.

When The Argus spoke to Nick Wilson, of the firm, he said he had not yet received any official instructions from Mr Youngs.

Jill McLean, a landlord waiting for £1,500 in rent collected by Youngs Owen, said: "At least if insolvency proceedings start we will have someone dealing with us. At the moment there is no one speaking to us."

Mr Youngs launched his own firm largely on the back of commissions to manage flats in Embassy Court. His financial problems were compounded by a Brighton County Court judgment ordering him to pay £20,000 to Embassy Court landlord Chris Camillin last month.

An appeal by Mr Youngs was thrown out on Monday.