THE organisers of live rock concerts at Devizes Corn Exchange have decided to call it a day after a disappointing turnout for their last two gigs.

The board of Ceres Promotions, set up by former town mayor Ian Hopkins five years ago, made its decision after just 91 people attended a concert this month by Brazilian Alamo Leal and his band.

This resulted in a small loss for Ceres and followed a followed a disappointing turnout to see 70s singer Tom Robinson earlier this year when an unexpected snowfall turned the roads to ice.

Coun Hopkins set up Ceres Promotions, named after the main hall at the Corn Exchange and the statue of the Roman goddess of agriculture gracing the roof, after his mayoral year when he put on rock gigs to raise money for charity.

It was a non-profit-making organisation and what surplus was made at the gigs was ploughed back in to book more well-known bands.

Normally 250 to 350 people attended the gigs but lately the attendance has dropped.

Coun Hopkins was on holiday this week and unavailable for comment but in a letter to the Gazette he wrote: "We came together as a bunch of friends who wanted to share what we enjoyed.

"Recently there has been a decline in support for these events and we can't afford to continue. So we're giving it a rest for a while."