THE 'Peoples Festival' music event that was to take centre stage at the Rye next month has been cancelled.

Organiser Marco Iorio said he had no choice but to pull the plug after one of his headlining acts, Finley Quaye, said he would not be performing.

But he has assured the public that anyone who has paid for tickets will be getting a full refund.

Two years ago Mr Iorio organised a similar event in Windsor that was also cancelled at short notice.

Marco Iorio, 34, of High Wycombe, explained he only discovered Finley Quaye couldn't attend on Tuesday evening.

He said: "I just don't know how to resolve it. I have got to make a decision - we have got three weeks.

"If I had a couple of months it wouldn't matter diddly, but it's too late in the day now.

"I'm refunding everybody their money."

Mr Iorio explained that anyone who had bought a ticket could get a refund by returning the ticket to the shop or pub they bought it from. He added that anyone who purchased their ticket online can expect to have their debit or credit card refunded automatically.

The August 23 festival had announced performances from Lee Scratch Perry, the other headlining act, and more bands across two stages.

Mr Iorio said: "I'm just gutted it hasn't happened, and I know the people of Wycombe are really, really looking forward to it."

He added that he hoped to organise another festival next year.

Mr Iorio says he abandoned the festival in Windsor, where he used to live and run a record shop, after being let down by one of the firms he was planning to use.

He said this resulted in him losing his home, his business, and moving to High Wycombe.