A concert hall that has just been newly-restored is to close during the summer only five months after it reopened.

The Dome in Brighton reopened in March after a lengthy restoration costing more than £20 million.

However, not all the work had been completed and the hall will have to shut for six weeks in August and September.

The final concert will be by guitarist Ernest Ranglin on July 26.

The Dome will then stay closed until September 13, when a concert will be given by Van Morrison.

The main reason for the closure is to reinstate the organ, an integral part of the Dome since its last restoration in the Thirties.

The £312,000 project will ensure the organ will sound as good as it did when it was played by resident organist Douglas Reeve.

Dome spokeswoman Caroll Pinkham said the summer had been chosen because it was a quiet period with few tours taking place.

She said results of the opening season had been stunningly successful, with ticket sales totalling £500,000.

The autumn programme includes country legend Don Williams and several top classical music concerts.

Work during the summer will also include repairing defects, structural work and putting the finishing touches to the restoration.

Ms Pinkham said: "It will be an opportunity to make sure it is fully operational."

The Dome's restoration had been an extremely difficult project, involving intricate work to a crucial listed building.

Difficulties had included finding extensive dry rot in the roof of the foyer where the old central library had been.

The restoration work was funded by the Arts Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the South-East England Development Agency and the city council.