Music festival organisers offering only 35% refunds after their event was cancelled are to be investigated by Trading Standards.

The third Summer Saturnalia, organised by Huddersfield-based promoters Matthew Terry and Alex Hawdon, had promised a feast of dance and urban music in a pretty, rural setting.

But the event, which was to take place at Funkirk Estate, Skipton, from July 19 to 21, was cancelled on July 2 due to financial problems.

Ticket holders have been offered free entry to Beacons Festival, a rock and alternative festival which takes place at Heslaker Farm, Skipton, from August 16 to 18.

But those after a refund have been told there is only enough cash to reimburse 35% of the cost of each £67.50 weekend and �25 day ticket.

By law, however, organisers of a cancelled event must offer a full refund to ticket holders.

A message on the Summer Saturnalia website reads: “Due to costs that have already been incurred the funds are not available to offer a full refund.

“We recognise that those of you holding tickets believed in and supported Summer Saturnalia, some of you for many years, and we sincerely apologise that you have been let down.”

The site adds: “Summer Saturnalia was run by an unpaid volunteer team who donated their time, expertise, and in some instances their own money to support the project.

“We recognise that nobody asked us to do this, and we are not seeking your sympathy – given the circumstances of us only being able to offer a partial refund we felt it necessary to clarify that neither Summer Saturnalia nor any of our partner organisations have profited from this or any previous events.”

Andrew Fagg, of Hawes, North Yorkshire, and a dozen of his friends bought weekend tickets for the festival.

Mr Fagg said: “This is daylight robbery. It has to be against the law. It is certainly against the terms and conditions on the ticket.”

West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) confirmed it would be investigating the company registered at Vernon House, New North Road.

But WYTS officer David Lodge said ticket holders would be unlikely to recoup their losses if the company had no money left.

Mr Lodge said: “From a contractual point of view you can’t just offer 35% back.

“Strictly speaking, ticket holders should be entitled to a 100% refund but if there’s no money left there’s not a lot we can do.”

The Examiner contacted Mr Terry and Mr Hawdon. Neither organiser responded.