Anger grows over missing salon owner

Staff at Tranquility in the Old Town were locked out of the popular salon last Thursday after Sarah stripped the building and adjacent house where she lived, of furniture and equipment.

It is believed the mother-of-three left 3,500 in unpaid rent for Quakers Mill and the house next door, as well as a 12,000 loan from Old Town Preservation Society for structural work to the property.

It is also understood local businesses and other suppliers are also looking to find Sarah to settle accounts.

Last week the Observer was flooded with calls from customers left with useless vouchers for beauty treatment at Tranquility.

The salon owner, who promoted health and beauty to 'relax mind, body and soul brought stress, anger and upset throughout the town in the wake of her disappearance.

Hundreds of pounds were spent over Christmas as the gift vouchers proved a popular present for mums, grannies, wives and daughters.

One man spend 120 on vouchers for his mother and his wife.

Another pensioner bought 35 worth of vouchers for her daughter. She said: "It is tragic.

Thirty-five pounds is a lot of money for me and I feel terrible because my daughter didn t get a present for me."

Despite attempts by the Observer to track her down, Sarah s whereabouts remain a mystery.

The telephone at Sarah s parents-in-law s home in Polegate had been blocked to the Observer number. An electronic message said: "The person you have called does not want to accept calls from you."

On Tuesday Sarah s mother, from Hurst Green, said she did not know where her daughter was.

"I am afraid I do not have a number for her. If she contacts me I will pass the message on," she said.

Meanwhile there has been some interest in the Old Town premises.

Co-owner of Quakers Mill, Kim Abbott, said she had received several calls from people interesting in buying the property.

And the sudden closure of Tranquility may prove beneficial for staff member 20-year-old Hayley Heard, who is owed 800 in wages.

Hayley is hoping to start up on her as a beautician after being offered premises above Y U Hair in London Road, St Leonards.