TRADING standards officers and police have been asked to investigate the financial fallout from two concerts held at a North Yorkshire stately home.

Thousands of people enjoyed the Last Night Of The Proms and Party In The Park events in the grounds of Ripley Castle, near Harrogate, on August 31 and September 1.

But behind the scenes, a huge row was brewing over payments to suppliers, including at least £10,000 allegedly owed to Ripley Castle itself.

The home's owner, Sir Thomas Ingilby, said today that he was still waiting for payment from the concert organiser, Ian Martin Events, of Norton, near Malton.

He said there had also been complaints from suppliers, and complaints had been made to North Yorkshire trading standards department and police.

Meanwhile, people who had bought tickets for a pop concert, due to take place at Ripley in July and postponed to September 1, have also complained because they are still waiting for a refund.

Robert Beaumont, a spokesman for Mr Martin, said today he "apologised profusely" for any inconvenience caused.

He said Mr Martin, a wine expert, had been on a pre-arranged working holiday in France since the concerts, but he would be back in his office on Monday, when he would deal with outstanding problems as a matter of great urgency.

"He will endeavour to do his very best to ensure that everybody who is owed money is paid."

Mr Beaumont said the Proms concert had been a tremendous success, with 8,000 people attending, but the pop concert - which clashed with a pop event in Bradford - had been disappointing, with an attendance of only 2,000.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are liaising with trading standards and are looking into it."

A trading standards spokesman said it had received a number of complaints both about late payments and also about a failure to give refunds to people who had tickets for the cancelled pop concert.

Updated: 14:56 Friday, September 20, 2002