A library has reopened after staff were locked out of the building in a dispute over rent payments.

Bailiffs took possession of Peacehaven library on Monday, December 10, barring customers and staff from the premises without warning.

The East Sussex County Council facility opened again on Saturday.

The situation arose following a dispute between head landlord Fixit DIY Ltd and the owner of the freehold, Gainstates Ltd, which ordered the bailiffs in.

The county council stressed it was in no way responsible for the closure and said rent for the library had been paid in full and on time since it took up occupancy of the building in April 1997.

Barry Forster, the council's Lewes area library manager, said: "We would like to apologise to everyone for the disruption and withdrawal of the service but I emphasise the situation was not of our making.

"Notices informing customers of alternative library provision were displayed throughout the centre and the town council was kind enough to temporarily receive returned books on our behalf."