AN OPERA night in Swindon has been cancelled because of lack of interest.

The Operatic Dinner, which last year raised £6,000 for local charities, was being organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon.

But former Swindon Mayor Derek Benfield, who was to host the event, said: "We had plenty of pledges but nothing else.

"It was getting near and these opera people are very busy so we decided to pull the plug.

"It's very disappointing. We didn't sell enough tickets, it's been cancelled because of that."

The musical event, which was to be at the Hilton Hotel on March 13 , would have involved the same high-profile opera stars that made it such a success last year.

They included accompanist David Syrus, who is head of music at the Royal Opera House, bass Graeme Broadbent, who has worked with opera great Luciano Pavarotti, and mezzo soprano Elizabeth Sikora, who has sung for the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet.

Mr Benfield said: "It was exactly the same idea as last year, which was a great success. It was going to be upmarket. I was very disappointed. I thought we would raise an awful amount of money for local charities which have suffered recently.

"People don't have an endless amount of money to give away so this was a good opportunity."

Last year's event saw 165 guests enjoy some of the country's brightest opera stars and raise £6,000 for the Prospect Hospice and The Swindon Women's Refuge.

Mr Benfield said: "Last year was fantastic and a lot of people have said how disappointed they are that it's not going ahead."

Gareth Bethell