The reopening of the Brighton Dome has been delayed.

Developers working on the restoration of the 200-year-old building have hit structural problems which mean it will not be ready to open in September as planned.

Work is now not expected to be completed before spring 2002 and the delay is expected to push up costs for the £21 million project.

Nicholas Dodds, chief executive of The Brighton Festival and Dome, said: "This has been a tough decision to take when everyone has been working so hard to achieve an autumn opening but it is the right thing to do in the circumstances.

"I know it will be disappointing for many people who had been looking forward to returning to the Dome this autumn.

"But we have got to get it right, no one will thank us for getting it wrong."

Work began on the restoration in October 1999.

Once completed it is hoped the building will offer improved sightlines and more comfort for 1,900 capacity audiences, as well as high-tech equipment, high acoustic quality and upgraded stage and backstage facilities for performers.

So far the roof work has been completed and the stage floor has been put down but building work has been held up now by serious structural problems.

Mr Dodds said: "The restoration of a Grade l listed building is a detailed and complex process and indeed many obstacles have been successfully overcome during the last year.

"However, the contractor has informed the development company that there are serious technical difficulties that they believe will effect the completion date of the project."

The re-opening has been postponed now, to give companies who might have been planning to come to the Dome in the autumn time to rearrange their schedules, although no productions were booked in.

The renovation project includes the Corn Exchange and Pavilion Theatre which re-opened to public acclaim last May and the refurbishment of the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery which is still on schedule to open this October.