August 8, 2007 12:39

Girls Aloud fans struggle to get refund after cancelled gig

Plymouth show is off, now punters want their money back

Girls Aloud fans in the West Country are worried they will not get their money refunded after a concert in Plymouth was cancelled.

Ticket holders have attempted to reach organisers Edge Promotions but have been unable to make contact, reports BBC News.

The band were supposed to play an all-day concert in the town on June 9, however this was postponed to "unforeseen circumstances", including health and safety issues, until August.

The first notice the gig had been cancelled completely only appeared on the Girls Aloud website last week, explaining: "The girls have now been informed by the event's promoter that the show will no longer be going ahead. Nadine, Cheryl, Sarah, Nicola and Kimberley are really disappointed and apologise to their fans that the show has been cancelled - for reasons beyond their control."

The band’s agents William Morris said they were unaware of any problems regarding refunds for the show and "were under the impression that there would be no problems with refunds and that it would be done immediately".

However, the local press in Plymouth has suggested the matter might not be so simple.

Some refunds have been made through local box offices and an attempt to provide refunds through Ticketmaster is also apparently underway, but fans who have tried to contact Edge Promotions managing director Shaun Hooper have been unsuccessful.

He told the Plymouth Evening Herald last week that he had lost between £50,000 and £60,000 on the event, saying "There was no malicious intention to do this and to rip people off. That's the last thing I would want to do."

Mr Hooper added poor ticket sales had resulted in the cancellation, though he did concede it was the first time he had tried to organise a large show of this type.

Plymouth's Trading Standards Office have since said they are monitoring the situation.