A council said it will take "no further action" after seafront bollards were listed for sale on social media.

The five Victorian bollards, on sale for £250 each, have been marked as "sold" on Facebook.

Brighton and Hove City Council launched an investigation into the sale on Friday, days after the post went live 

The listing, posted in Haywards Heath, includes a photograph of the bollards and says they are "original cast iron from Brighton seafront".

At the time, the council said: "We do not sell or dispose of architectural or iconic infrastructure to the public. 

“We will take appropriate action to retrieve the bollards if they are or were council property. We will not hesitate to involve the police if necessary."

But the council has now closed the investigation and, according to Facebook, the bollards have been sold. 

“We believe the bollards on Facebook were council bollards that were removed more than ten years ago," said a council spokesman.

“At the time the contract in place would have allowed the contractors to dispose of them. We will therefore not be taking further action." 

The sale of seafront ironwork has been the subject of controversy in recent years after two Victorian Brighton seafront lanterns were listed for sale on Facebook in 2020.

Just two days after the lights has been moved due to a safety risk, an advert appeared online selling a pair for £575.

Colas, the contractor charged with removing the lanterns, had been instructed to try to preserve the original materials.

In relation to the bollards, the council says it has now brought in contracts "with a much greater focus on protecting our heritage."

The council spokesman added: “We no longer sell or dispose of architectural or iconic infrastructure to the public.”