DUDLEY Town Hall will be closed until the end of March while vital repair work is carried out to the ceiling.

The popular borough venue has been closed since cracks appeared in the plaster on the ceiling in early December.

Town hall bosses say contractors have carried out an initial inspection and the venue will remain closed for a further two months while repair work is undertaken by specialist contractors.

In the meantime a host of spring shows have been rescheduled.

New dates have now been announced for All Star Superslam Wrestling, Soul Survivors, The Good Old Days of Music Hall and Ken Dodd.

Existing ticket holders have been notified, and people can now buy tickets for the rescheduled shows.

The Ken Dodd – Happiness Show will take place on Saturday June 20 at 7pm; The Good Old Days of Variety show will be held on Tuesday October 13 at 2pm; American Superslam Wrestling will take place on Thursday October 29 at 7.30pm; and Soul Survivors will perform at the venue on Saturday December 5 at 7.30pm.

The Stand Up for Tommy Mundon fundraiser for Mary Stevens Hospice, due to be held on February 17, and SHINE concert on February 24 have both been moved to Brierley Hill Civic Hall although the show dates remain the same.

Councillor Hilary Bills, Dudley's cabinet member for environment and culture, said: "We have continued to work with groups and show organisers to find alternative venues or change scheduled dates wherever possible and I’m glad that we’ve managed to re-schedule these shows.

“In the meantime, we apologise to people for any inconvenience during this unforeseen but essential work.”

Bookings for the banqueting suite in the town hall will be honoured.

For more information or to buy tickets for the rescheduled shows visit www.dudley.gov.uk/see-and-do/entertainment-live/