Promoters could face investigation by police Trading standards officers say the Andrea Bocelli concert fiasco may now be a matter for police to investigate.

Hundreds of ticket holders who have paid out thousands of pounds to promoters Vipco have been chasing refunds since the concert at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium was first postponed in April.

They have been unable to get their money back because Vipco's Mike Dandridge and Darren Ward have failed to respond to letters and phone calls.

Richard Webb, of Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards department, said: "If the promoters have been taking money for something knowing they cannot provide what they have been promising, then that could constitute theft or taking money by deception. But then it would be necessary to prove that that was the case. It would be necessary to show that the promoters continued to take money for the concert knowing full well it was not going to go ahead.

"If anyone has any evidence of that then we would like to speak to them. That could change things considerably."

On June 1, Mr Dandridge told the Oxford Mail the concert "probably won't happen", but said his business partner Darren Ward was discussing legal issues with his solicitor and would make a further comment.

But yesterday, all Mr Dandridge would say was: "I'm not at liberty to say anything. It's down to the people who have invested in the concert to make a statement now. I'm not in a position to make a comment."

Mr Dandridge, who has now distanced himself from the fallout of the event, would not say who the investors were, and has never previously mentioned them.

Mr Ward has left his pub, the Red Lion, in Islip, and returned to his home town of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, with his wife and family.

Mr Dandridge and Mr Ward were running Vipco from Mr Ward's pub, which the Oxford Mail understands is up for sale.

All money taken from ticket holders for the planned concert went into the pub's accounts because Vipco's credit card processing machine was broken.

Ticket holders say their bank statements show money from their accounts was paid to the Red Lion.

Trading standards officers have warned ticket holders could face problems chasing refunds from Vipco through the small claims court if there is nothing to make a claim against.

Mr Ward was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

In the past 24 hours, national phone and Internet ticket agency Ticketmaster has stopped selling tickets for the event

The agency's spokesman Lynn Ingle declined to comment on the move.