Shows cancelled after urgent repair work at Dudley Town Hall

Loose plaster on the ceiling needs to be fixed meaning the venue will remain closed until at least the end of March.

Bosses are working with show organisers to find alternative dates or venues.

But some performers have been called off and refunds will be issued to be people who have already bought tickets.

A school's festive choral concert involving 175 performers was one was the first events to be called off.

Jesson's CE Primary School was due to stage Now That's What I Call Christmas at the venue last Thursday when two children's choirs and rock/pop choir Fusion Rock were due to perform.

But organisers were forced to cancel because they couldn't find another venue big enough at short notice.

Events including American Superslam Wrestling on February 14 and a performance by The Soul Survivors on February 21 have both been cancelled and people are being offered refunds.

Some shows have been rescheduled to later in the year including The Good Old Days of Variety with host Duggie Brown, which was due to take place on March 3 but will be held in October.

While Wednesday evening dances, run by Fiona Bennett, held in the main hall have been moved to Dudley College.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environment and culture, said: "Our contractors have made an initial inspection of the work that needs doing and have advised us the hall needs to close until the end of March.

"During this time, we are continuing to work with groups and show organisers booked into Dudley Town Hall to find alternative venues or change scheduled dates wherever possible. "

It comes just months after the building was given a revamp including a new floor.

The £25,000 project included installing new carpets and giving dressing rooms a lick of paint.

The hall closed for five weeks during the summer in what is traditionally a quieter time for bookings and ahead of its busy autumn schedule.

This week the council has revealed plans to transfer the day-to-day running of Brierley Hill Civic Hall to Dudley Council for Voluntary Service.

Bosses says the move would save the local authority money at a time a squeeze is on local authority coffers and would help increase the number of shows staged at the hall in Bank Street.