Sir Elton John has been given permission to perform a live gig in Sussex - more than five months after the 18,000 tickets for the event were sold.

Brighton and Hove City Council has issued a licence to Sussex County Cricket Club for the concert on June 25, Sir Elton's first performance in Sussex for 24 years.

Ticket lines were opened at 9am on November 28 and by lunchtime 10,000 of the 18,000 tickets had been sold for between £40 and £60.

The licence allows for sound checks and for the gig to start at 1pm and run until 8pm.

A telephone hotline will be made available and a council officer will investigate any complaints about noise as they arise.

Organisers have been planning the concert - the biggest live event in the history of the County Ground - since last July.

The playing area and outfield will be protected by special flooring but it will not be covered until the evening before and will be uncovered immediately after.

Most of the logisitics are being handled by promoters Marshall Arts and the club has sold more than 1,000 corporate packages.

Every bar and hospitality box in the ground is being used - there will even be guests in the committee room and Press box.

The stage will be at the Gilligan End of the ground.

Sir Elton is doing a short tour of cricket grounds but Hove will be his only afternoon show.

More than 100 tonnes of steel will be used to build the stage and more than 40,000 watts of electricity will be used to power more than 100 giant moving lights.