The British Library has suspended nine members of its staff for allegedly looking at pornography on the internet.

The workers were based at the main building at St Pancras in central London, the newspaper library in Colindale, north London and Boston Spa in West Yorkshire.

The Library said no crime had been committed but it was investigating it as a private matter.

It is believed there will be a disciplinary hearing into the allegations in a few weeks' time.

British Library director of human resources said: "Following a routine internal investigation into internet use, the Library discovered that a number of staff appear to have been using the facility for inappropriate purposes and contrary to their contractual obligations."

The Library is believed to hold the largest collection of pornography in the world.

Every book and magazine which is published is deposited there.