A packed village pub was suddenly closed down after staff discovered a large amount of money had gone missing.

Customers who had ordered meals and drinks yesterday lunchtime were offered their money back and asked to leave.

Police were called to the Plough Inn, Rottingdean, about 2pm at the pub's busiest time of day. The closure happened at the end of the successful Renaissance Weekend in the village, which had seen the Bass Tavern packed out for four days.

Customers were told the pub was being closed because of "financial irregularities".

The popular pub, which overlooks the village pond, has been run by several managers in the past months, including one appointed as a troubleshooter.

A customer at the bar said: "At 2pm the man who had been managing the pub on a temporary basis just walked into the packed bar and said, 'Owing to a financial theft, the pub will be cleared immediately. Can you all please leave quickly'.

"We were all stunned. At first we thought it was joke. But he started to clear the bar and tell people to leave. When people started complaining they had paid for food and drinks which had not arrived, staff started giving money back."

A spokesman for the brewery said: "We can make no comment. We are investigating."