THOUSANDS of Bryan Ferry fans were disappointed when the singer's big performance last night in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, was cancelled at the 11th hour.

The former Roxy Music star, who was suffering from a throat infection, was said to be "deeply disappointed" by having to pull out.

A full refund has been promised to all ticket holders by the Forestry Commission, which expects to see its profit on a weekend of concerts at Dalby wiped out. The previous night's concert by Paul Weller had been a sell-out success.

Almost all the 4,500 tickets for the Ferry concert had been sold. People turning up who had not heard about the cancellation were still able to see the support acts, Duel and Linda Lewis, who is famous for her hit single, Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss).

While many turned round and went home, about 1,200 stayed on to see them perform.

One disappointed concert-goer was Stephanie Edwards, who was taking her mother-in-law, June, from Wilberfoss, as a birthday treat.

Stephanie said: "We were very disappointed. The funny thing is that as we were going up to Pickering, it was pouring down and I was saying that the concert might have to be cancelled.

"But by the time we got there, there was a sunset and it was idyllic. Then we saw the poster saying it had been cancelled.

"When we told June's husband, Derek , later on what had happened, he didn't believe us. He thought it was a wind-up."

Paul Cody, from the Forestry Commission, said: "We are extremely sorry for this cancellation, but it was a situation beyond our control."

He said that if tickets had been purchased on the Forestry Commission Ticket Hotline (01842 814612) they should be returned intact within 28 days to Ticket Bookings, Forest District Office, Santon Downham, Brandon, Suffolk IP27 0TJ, and a full refund would be given by the same method as the original purchase.

If tickets were purchased from wayahead.com, customers will be sent letters or emails asking for tickets to be returned to: Customer Services, See Tickets, The Hollows, St James Street, Nottingham NG1 6FJ

If tickets were purchased at Dalby Forest or Tourist Information Centres customers will be given refunds on return of full tickets to the Forestry Commission, Outgang Road, Pickering YO18 7EL. 01751 472771.

Updated: 11:10 Monday, June 21, 2004