OPERA fans have been promised they will not miss out despite a computer breakdown at a York theatre.

The system at the Theatre Royal failed on Wednesday, leaving box office staff having to assign seats manually.

But a theatre spokeswoman promised nobody would miss York Opera's performance of Carmen, which runs until tomorrow. She said: "People have still been able to buy tickets, but we have had to do it manually. Technicians are working on the problem now and it should be fixed by tonight, but we will have extra staff on the box office and everybody who wants to see Carmen will."

Pauline Marshall, chairman of York Opera, said: "We are hoping that people won't be put off. We want them to know that they will get in."

Updated: 14:38 Friday, July 11, 2003