The potentially fatal bug which causes Legionnaire's disease has been found in a public building in Hove.

Traces of the Legionella bacterium have been found in several places inside Hove Town Hall almost a month after tests first discovered the deadly bug in a hot water storage unit.

The bug, which can be fatal in up to 15 per cent of cases, was originally discovered in the storage unit during routine testing on April 3.

Managers had the unit sterilised and carried out tests on the rest of the building, which proved negative.

However, the results of further tests, which came back on Monday, revealed low levels of the bug in several places in the building.

The whole system will now be sterilised with chlorine in a bid to destroy the bacteria.

A spokeswoman said: "Health and safety and environmental health officers have been consulted and they are satisfied the measures proposed and undertaken were all that could be expected in such circumstances.

"We decided we would have senior assistant directors meet all the staff in the building and let them know exactly what was happening. Any necessary action was taken immediately with localised disinfection and full purging of the entire hot water system with neutralised chlorine solution.

"The temperature has now been adjusted to a higher level at all staff facilities in Hove Town Hall. We are also looking at our present control measures to prevent a reoccurrence."

Legionnaire's is most often contracted by inhaling mist from water sources. The incubation is between two and ten days, causes flu-like symptoms and breathing difficulties. In some patients it can lead to pneumonia.

Some council staff at Hove Town Hall accused the authority of failing to tell them traces of Legionella were in the building as soon as the bug had been discovered.

One employee said: "I think it's disgraceful because people in the building who wash their hands or use the showers have not been informed and therefore the council has put everyone at risk.

"They have given us no information about what precautions we should take."

Andy Richards, chairman of the Brighton and Hove branch of Unison, said he had been assured the council was dealing with the bug but was concerned there had been communication problems.

The council denied it had kept staff in the dark and said it had informed them as soon as sterilising was due to take place.

Tony Miller, director of communications at the council, said: "This bacteria exists in the water systems of buildings everywhere.

"We do monthly checks and if the level reaches a certain threshold we add chlorine to the water and raise the temperature.

"During our checks this month, the bacteria level was shown to be approaching the threshold so we took this preventative action and alerted all staff."

Mr Miller could not comment on allegations made by staff that they were kept in the dark during the April 3 findings but promised to investigate.

l Social services staff at the council's Royal York Buildings in Poole Valley, Brighton, have been told there will be no running water in their building until Friday.

The water system broke down yesterday and staff have had to drink bottled water and go to Brighton Town Hall to use the toilet.

A council spokesman confirmed the problem was under investigation and said it would be up to managers if staff were allowed to go home, be moved to alternative buildings, or work on flexitime.