A MAJOR tourist attraction has announced a £2.6 million investment.

Sea Life Brighton, in Marine Parade near the Palace Pier, is to undergo a refurbishment to transform its ocean display.

The programme will be the fourth and final phase of work completed at the aquarium, with more than £4 million already spent since 2011.

General manager Max Leviston said: “Being the oldest operating aquarium in the world, with Grade II listed heritage, we have a responsibility to the building and the safety of our visitors, staff and creatures to ensure structural integrity is maintained.

“The works are also being completed to accommodate the Soho House development.”

Exclusive members’ club Soho House is being built above the Sea Life site.

The ocean tunnel and display will be closed to the public from September 3 and will reopen in spring next year.

Mr Leviston said: “Although a small part of the attraction will be closed during this time, we will still have 55 displays and 3,500 amazing creatures including jellyfish, rays and seahorses to name but a few.

“Visitors will be truly amazed when they return to see what we’ve done to transform the ocean display next spring.”

The aquarium, built between 1869 and 1872, was designed and engineered by Eugenius Birch, the designer of the West Pier in Brighton.

The building has been used in several ways over the years, playing host to a car museum, ballroom, displaying a wide range of animals including penguins, chimpanzees and bears, and there was even a mini golf course on the roof at one point.

Many locals may remember the aquarium contained a dolphinarium from 1968 but the dolphins were released back to the wild when Sea Life took over in 1991.

Meanwhile, Sea Life Brighton has teamed up with Sussex Cricket for the current Vitality Blast season.

It is sponsoring the new family stand in the north west corner of The 1st Central County Ground at Hove.

The stand has been in place for all seven home group matches and is for families only.

On match days, this area has been full of fun activities for the family, including face painting, balloon modelling and the BatFast cricket simulator where people can test their batting skills against Sharks favourites Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills.