A library has banned a retired teacher from promoting her monthly discussion group after branding it a religious cult.

Diana Innes, 65, has been advertising her Theosophical Society meetings on posters at Hove library since last summer but library staff now say the material is unsuitable.

Mrs Innes, of Shirley Drive, Hove, insists there is nothing sinister about the sessions, which explore the world's religions. Topics for debate in the forthcoming autumn sessions include Egyptian history and modern physics.

She had booked space for posters but after she handed them over with £10 for hire of a glass case, she was told she could no longer promote the group in city libraries. Mrs Innes said: "They told me they couldn't promote anything that might be a cult or anything religious at all.

"But this isn't a cult, nor is it a specific religion. It's all about free-thinking, discussing virtually everything under the sun."

Posters say the group "provides a meeting-place for all like-minded free-thinkers to socialise and share ideas on a wide variety of topics not available elsewhere".

Library staff expressed doubts when Mrs Innes approached them a year ago but were satisfied when she returned with a letter from the Theosophical Society in London.

Society publicity officer Colin Boyce said: "The Foundation for Theosophical Studies is an educational charity that does not promote any particular faith or belief system."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: "All our libraries have a policy of not displaying any materials, leaflets or exhibitions promoting a particular religious or political viewpoint."

The Theosophical Society was founded in the late 19th Century by Russian occultist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky to gain knowledge of God through mystical insight.

From September 12 the group will meet one Sunday afternoon a month at the English Language Centre in Palmeira Square, Hove.