People were turned away from a cutting-edge new library as thousands turned up for their first visit.

The £14.5 million library in Jubilee Street, Brighton, was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers hoping for their first glimpse inside the building on Saturday.

People filled the impressive building to capacity as they checked out the new facility described as the library of the future.

More than a hundred were left waiting outside and were only being allowed in on a one in, one out basis.

The library opened on Thursday, when visitors began queuing almost an hour before the doors opened.

More than 2,000 passed through the building in the first two hours but many more waited until the weekend.

Those unable to get in were told they would have to come back today.

Former Brighton councillor Jimmy May and his wife were turned away.

He said: "I have waited more than 30 years for this and now I am still waiting. There were hundreds of us outside trying to get in but they said we would have to come back on Monday.

"There were a lot of disappointed people."

Mr May took part in discussions on what should happen to Brighton's library and the derelict Jubilee site when he sat on Brighton Borough Council between 1979 and 1988.

He said he was delighted at the progress that had been made.

He said: "It's fantastic that we finally have this wonderful library. I just wish I could take a look.

"But I suppose if I've waited this long another week won't hurt."

Meanwhile technical difficulties were being experienced inside.

Former reporter on The Argus Adam Trimingham, one of those who did get in, said the library's lift and some of the computers were not working.

Mr Trimingham said: "The place was so full and a lot of things weren't working.

"I took my 85-year-old mother along and she had to climb the stairs because the lift was broken.

"Midway through the afternoon, a flood of people streamed out because numbers exceeded health and safety regulations."

Laurence Buckley, who visited the library with his six-year-old daughter, described pandemonium in the children's library, a large section with hundreds of books, toys, special computers, squashy seating and an activity area.

Mr Buckley said: "It was utter madness but great fun."

The building houses more than 140,000 books, historical texts, computers, DVDs, CDs, artwork and toys.

A year-long series of events is planned to celebrate the library's opening.

This week there are talks and appearances by fiction writer Katie Fforde, philosopher Anthony Grayling, crime writer Peter Guttridge, Sunday Times journalist Bryan Appleyard and Libby Purves in conversation with Venice-based writer Donna Leon.

For more information, visit www.thewordproject.info.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "It has been an extraordinary first few days.

"It is surely a first for any public building, let alone a library, to be so busy it is at the point of turning people away.

"We apologise and we hope they will come back."