Parts of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton will be covered by scaffolding for the next five summers as it undergoes a £1 million facelift.

The project to restore some of the Regency building's stonework starts in late August.

Work cannot be carried out in the colder months because the Bath stone used at the Pavilion is too delicate.

Consequently, large parts of the building will be under cover during the busiest times for tourism.

The Pavilion Stonework Restoration Project, which comes less than a decade after £10 million was spent on the Grade I listed building, will take place in stages.

The first phase will concentrate on the north-east end.

Repairs will include substantial work on the Jali screen - the decorative stonework between the columns in front of the Music Room.

The area will be hidden under scaffolding during the renovations, which are expected to last until the end of the summer.

Councillor Sue John, head of culture at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "The Pavilion is a national treasure.

"This is the only people's palace in Britain and we would be in dereliction of our duty if we allowed it to fall into disrepair. If we allow it to deteriorate, the building will be at risk of subsidence and cracking.

"The £200,000 a year is a reasonable amount of money to maintain this facility for a building of this age and heritage."

A council spokeswoman added: "The appearance of the Pavilion will be greatly enhanced after the repairs.

"The stonework will once again be crisp and the detail of the design will be visible.

"At present the deteriorated areas, where the stone is badly weathered, have blurred outlines.

"The repairs are mostly aesthetic but structural in some areas where the stone has decayed and eroded to a dangerous level that, if left, would threaten its stability."

The first major restoration of the stonework and structure of the Pavilion began in 1982.

The scheme cost more than £10 million, mostly paid for by English Heritage, and took more than a decade to complete.

A second project to restore the interior decoration chosen by George IV in the early 1820s continues today.

Andy Brown, regional director of English Heritage, said: "The Brighton Pavilion is an architectural icon of European importance.

"It is also a huge draw for tourists to the city and surrounding area."

The Pavilion was the eccentric seaside residence of King George IV and was built while he was Prince Regent in the early 1800s.

The Indian-style palace was the work of architect John Nash, who converted an unremarkable farmhouse into the most famous building in the county.

The cost of the latest makeover will be met from council budgets.