THE concert promoted by Okehampton FirstAid and headlining chart toppers Atomic Kitten and Lulu has been cancelled.
The announcement last weekend that the show would not go ahead was the latest in a series of setbacks for an organisation set up to help the town's economy recover from the blight of foot and mouth.
And it came just two weeks after the concert venue was switched from Okehampton's Simmons Park to Exeter University.
Event organiser Susanne Watt said it was with regret that the concert had been cancelled due to 'circumstances beyond the control of Okehampton FirstAid Ltd'.
She added: 'The company shares the disappointment of all those who purchased tickets and apologises to all those who supported the project in this and other ways.
'Having worked unpaid for Okehampton FirstAid for eleven months to achieve something different for the people of Okehampton, and to help in the regeneration of the area, it is with regret that I make this announcement.'
Mrs Watt said those who had bought tickets could apply for a refund and that every effort would be made to process applications within a 'reasonable period of time' provided a set procedure was followed.
'Once again, on a personal level, my sincere apologies to all who, like me, eagerly anticipated the concert,' she added.
FirstAid has suffered a history of setbacks since it was formed during the foot and mouth crisis last year with the aim of putting on a big event to benefit the area.
A concert featuring the Three Degrees, Damage and the Honeyz was cancelled twice last summer because of problems with foot and mouth restrictions.
A one-day musical event went ahead in August, but despite praise by those who attended, organisers were disappointed by the level of local support.
Another FirstAid concert featuring the London Gospel Community Choir had to be postponed at the last minute last November as a mark of respect due to the tragic death of Okehampton student Charlotte Saunders.
And late last year, three proposed trustees of Okehampton FirstAid, town mayor Christine Marsh, chamber of trade chairman Ian Bailey and Judy Pride, resigned from the organisation.
It was later reported that FirstAid hoped to secure new trustees and had applied for charitable status.
l Applications for ticket refunds must be in writing with the tickets enclosed — the security tear-off section of the ticket can be retained by the applicant.
Applicants should give full details of their name, address, the point of purchase and ticket price and allow 28 days for a refund cheque to be processed.
The refund applications should be sent to: Okehampton FirstAid, Room 4, Bridge House, Fore Street, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1DL — this is a correspondence address only.
Okehampton FirstAid says the 28-day period is necessary as refunds have to be authorised.
Those who purchased their tickets through the National Box Office (08705 321321) must contact the NBO for their refund.