THE firework finale to the Ludlow Festival went off with a bang for some but the accompanying musical act was a damp squib for others.

Ludlow resident and prominent councillor Richard Phillips has complained to the Trading Standards Office that he expected more of one of his favourite groups, the Nolans.

"For four months I had been eagerly expecting to hear them in my home town," he said. "I paid £150 for six family and friends and they did not sing a single song all evening. There used to be five Nolan sisters but this time there were only two doing backing vocals."

The Festival brochure gave top billing to The Cruisers, The Pacemakers, The Tremeloes and Manfred Mann. It added, "Supporting them will be The Nolans and a six-piece band."

Festival chairman Adrian Weatherall replied: "The material which we produced was based entirely on the material from the promoter. The Nolans were described in the material as a supporting act. Two of the original Nolan sisters were on the stage supporting other acts as advertised."

Many were also upset by the 35 per cent rise in the price of tickets from £18.50 to £25. Pam Palmer was with a group of seven friends from Cleobury Mortimer who paid £200 for their evening out.

"We thought the Nolan Sisters would stand up and do a number. It was a big disappointment," she said.