THE concert due to take place this Saturday evening in Simmons Park featuring megastars Lulu and Atomic Kitten has been rescheduled for February 9.

The event will now also include the London Community Gospel Choir and all tickets purchased will remain valid.

Organisers Okehampton FirstAid have apologised for any inconvenience but due to ticket sales being slow it had been decided to postpone the event.

The concert, the third to be organised by FirstAid, had created great excitement in town but people appeared to be waiting until the last minute to buy tickets.

Ian Bailey, who will be one of the trustees when FirstAid acquires its charitable status soon, believes two postponements of the music festival in Simmons Park earlier this year due to unforeseen circumstances — namely the continuation of the foot and mouth crisis — had made people wary of buying tickets too soon.

Despite the hiccups which affected the previous event, it went ahead on August Bank Holiday Monday featuring the English Symphony Orchestra, the Wurzels and a trio of sixties bands — those who attended hailed the concert as excellent.

Mr Bailey said many people had indicated they were coming to the Atomic Kitten and Lulu concert but had not yet purchased a ticket.

'It's true to say they were slow and a difficult decision had to be made on whether to go ahead or not on Saturday,' he said.

'The chances are that we would have sold enough by the end of this week but it was too much of a gamble.'

Another proposed trustee, Judy Pride, said it was a disappointment for people but the event would be just as fantastic in February.

'In fact, it will be better because people will be able to see the brilliant London Community Gospel Choir as well,' she said.

'All the acts and people involved with this event are fully supportive of the change of date and we look forward to a really big party.'

A spokesman for Atomic Kitten said the girls were 'sorry' the concert had been postponed. However, with everybody's schedules it had worked out easier to do it 'next time around'.

'They are hard workers and always have been,' he said.

'The girls gig and they gig hard — they are very aware if they don't do something there will be people who get disappointed.'

He said Atomic Kitten were looking forward to the new Okehampton date early next year.

FirstAid co-ordinator Susanne Watt said hopefully from this people would realise just how important it was to book tickets in advance.

'We have the backing of the bands to reschedule — they are 100 per cent behind it and Lulu is due to do an interview on Radio Devon to talk about it,' she said.

'People can get a refund on their ticket but we hope they will keep them and come along in February.'

EX20 residents who wish to have refunds are asked to call the Ockment Centre on 01837 53276 or Susanne on 01837 55611 (Thursdays and Fridays) by 5pm on November 23. Other ticket holders should call the Box Office on 08705 321321. The information number is 07790 110630.

Tickets purchased for the London Community Gospel Choir at Okehampton College on October 26, which was postponed because of the tragic death of schoolgirl Charlotte Saunders, will also be valid for February 9.