The owner of a car dealership which has gone into voluntary liquidation has blamed the tough climate in the motor industry.

Insolvency proceedings have been launched after the sudden closure of Rottingdean Motor Company.

Customers and fellow traders were shocked to see the entire stock of cars being removed from the premises of the business, which has been in the village for about 30 years.

The firm was one of the main Daihatsu dealerships in Sussex, with showrooms and offices in West Street and a workshop in Kemp Town.

Owner Nicholas John said: "We have the liquidators in there trying to dispose of the assets of the company for the benefit of everyone.

"I would like to think the workshop could stay in business but it's very early days and to some extent it's out of my hands.

"We had the Daihatsu and Kia franchises and they will be requiring representation in Brighton."

He said current conditions in the motor trade were making life difficult for everyone. He said: "There is all the publicity about how cars are cheaper abroad and there are very small margins to be made at the moment.

"It's not necessarily anyone's fault. We had added difficulty because with our two sites we had double the overheads. We did not have the benefit of the property being freehold either."

The company's creditors will be presented with a statement of its affairs at a meeting later this week.

Harold Williams, chairman of the Rottingdean Traders, Business and Professional Association, said: "It is always sad to see a well-established business in the village go. It came as a surprise. No one had an inkling it was about to happen."

The firm was accredited under the Motability scheme, which provides vehicles for the disabled and their families.

Its closure left several disabled customers wondering what to do with their cars.

Max Vaughan, of Cooksbridge Road, Brighton, said: "I went in there a few weeks ago and they told me to come back in 12 days. I went back and they had disappeared."

A Motability spokesman said those affected should call 0800 618618 to be put in touch with their nearest Daihatsu dealership.