Rock and Blues Custom Show cancellation confirmed

ORGANISERS OF The Rock and Blues Festival have agreed to scrap the event over fears it could become a battleground for rival biker gangs over the death of Hells Angel Gerard Tobin, who was shot dead while riding along the M40 last August.

The organisers, One Percent, released a statement last night stating the comapny's decision would prove to police that it wanted to co-operate.

It said: "For reasons completely unconnected with the organisers of the show, Derbyshire Constabulary have this year decided to object to the event at Catton Hall, citing possible public disorder. We have not received threats of any kind about this event, however we have a duty to customers, employees and the general public to take very seriously any representations made by the police based on intelligence which they have.

"It is hoped that the police will accept our decision to withdraw from this year's event as the strongest possible indication of our willingness to co-operate with them and that it will be possible in the future for other events to be organised." The festival was previously held at Pentrich but was switched to Catton Hall, in Walton-on-Trent, over flooding fears.