Bailiffs have shut down a town's library service amid confusion over whether the rent has been paid.

Staff and borrowers found themselves barred from entering Peacehaven library after the locks were removed and the premises sealed.

East Sussex County Council, which leases the building at the Meridian Centre, insisted it had paid the rent and blamed "an error further down the chain" for the sudden closure of the town's only library facility.

The council said it was working to get the service reopened as soon as possible and launched an urgent investigation.

Library user John Morris found the building shut when he turned up to use the photocopier yesterday.

Mr Morris, of Abbey Close, Peacehaven, said: "I think it's hilarious the library has been evicted from its own building because the rent hasn't been paid.

"But it will be a great inconvenience if it doesn't reopen again soon because parking is difficult in Newhaven and impossible in Lewes."

A county council spokesman said the rent had been paid in advance as usual and stressed the situation was not connected with the council's current financial difficulties.

He said: "We sub-let the premises and there is a long chain involved where we forward the money to an agent and they forward it on. There has been no problem with the council forwarding its rent and we understand the letting agency forwarded it on as well.

"There appears to have been a breakdown in the transfer of funds further down the chain and the money has not reached the owners.

"We were as amazed as anybody when the bailiffs turned up. As far as I'm aware, we had no indication this was about to happen.

"The first we knew was when the intruder alarm was activated and our security people turned up and saw the bailiffs.

"We would like to apologise to our customers and promise we are doing all we can to sort the situation out as quickly as possible. In the meantime, they can use the libraries in Seaford, Newhaven and Lewes."