Cornish music festival cancelled

The specially formed choir will continue to perform at charity concerts

A major Cornish music festival has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

Killiow 2008, featuring singer Hayley Westenra, had been due to take place in a giant pink marquee on the Killiow estate near Truro in September.

Organisers said there were insufficient funds from sales to pay the company supplying the marquee and no alternative could be found.

They said they were "bitterly disappointed" at the cancellation of the charity event.

'Sensible option'

Dr Charles Moon, chairman of Camellia MC Productions, said: "When it became clear we would not be able to use the Pink Galaxy [marquee] the whole committee began making telephone calls searching for a replacement.

"We tried desperately but without any success and we had to take the sensible option and cancel the event."

Organisers had promised Killiow 2008 would be the "largest undercover musical event ever seen in the South West."

They had been hoping to showcase local Cornish talent alongside international performers.

A full orchestra and choir of 270 professional and amateur singers which had been formed specially for the event will not be disbanded.

They plan to perform at charity concerts in the region instead.