PERSONAL details of about 1,400 carers, foster carers and disabled people were published online by mistake.

West Sussex County Council has launched an investigation after it emerged the information had been available for seven years.

The council always releases details of payments it makes of over £100.

However it did not remove information about vulnerable people and their carers.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has been informed about the incident and has launched its own investigation.

Local authorities are required to publish details of any payment over £500.

West Sussex County Council had reduced this to £100.

The information has now been removed.

The council said it was unlikely that individuals could have been identified from the limited information available.

It said the only personal details recorded were names and this was mainly limited to initials and surnames.