Hundreds of books which were abandoned by an enigmatic Brighton bookseller have finally been cleared.

Noel Brookes mysteriously deserted his bookshop in Queens Road earlier this year, after 30 years in charge.

After trying in vain to contact Mr Brookes, landlord Nigel Collins decided to throw open the chaotic store and let people take what they wanted.

The shop was renowned locally for being full of books piled high and apparently arranged randomly.

Mr Brookes also used another building across the road to store more books, again in no obvious order. His customers became accustomed to getting barely any conversation out of the gruff, chain-smoking shopkeeper. But he was able to locate, within seconds, any book he was asked about.

Spanish furniture firm Danona has taken over the shop which will open later this month.

Mr Collins said: "Unfortunately I haven't heard anything from Mr Brookes and it got to a point where I could not be bothered to chase him up anymore.

"Since he left and clearly did not have an interest in the books, I offered them to Oxfam, second-hand bookshops in London and anyone who wanted them."

Artist Caroline Brown used the shop as a temporary gallery space over the summer, and sold off some of the remaining books.

Mr Collins added: "I ended up paying someone a few hundred quid to remove the final lot. I felt the bookshop wasn't doing much for the property anyway. Hopefully these new people will."

The whereabouts of Mr Brookes are still unknown.