SIX dates have been cancelled in the popular Bands in the Park series, due to a staffing shortage.

Last year, bands performed in Priory Park every week from May 18 to September 14, attracting more than 8,000 people to the town.

But sponsors Malvern Town Council decided to pull six of the dates from the 18-week programme this year, after being unable to find a sufficient number of volunteers to marshal the concerts.

Concerts on May 16, 23 and 30, June 6 and September 5 and 12 will not go ahead.

Letters have been sent to bands including The Chase High School Band, Worcester Concert Brass and Malvern Hills District Brass Band informing them the dates have been cancelled.

Maureen Edwards, from the Chase High School Band, said it was very disappointed at the news.

"We couldn't believe it. If we'd been notified earlier, we might have been able to get some people to be marshals," she said.

Adrian White, secretary of Malvern Hills District Brass Band, said that when Bands in the Park was cancelled three years ago, the band had performed for free and had been involved with the campaign to get the event reinstated.

He said members felt upset at being dropped from the programme this year.

Town clerk Richard Chapman said: "We're just doing 12 weeks instead of 18, because we don't have the amount of people to marshal the event."

Mr Chapman said that Evesham-based Derek Bruce Entertainments had booked the bands initially before being told of the council's decision.

Mr Bruce said public support was vital if the six dates were to be reinstated next year.

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