A CHARITY concert in memory of a rugby union player is in danger of being cancelled because of a missing stage.

Jack Nicholson, 17, of Greetland, was planning a concert at Halifax Piece Hall on Saturday, August 13.

All proceeds were to go to charity Neurosurgical Research, because Jack's father, Ian, died of a brain haemorrhage in 2001.

Mr Nicholson, 43, sustained the injury during a rugby match with his team, West Vale-based Heath.

Jack, a sixth-form student at Rastrick High School, said: "The concert is all about raising more money to stop other people going through the same thing I've been through."

However, after 13 months of planning the concert, Jack has discovered that Calderdale Council has removed the stage from the Piece Hall.

To hire a stage for his concert would cost Jack about £5,000.

He said: "Stages are very expensive. If we don't have one, we haven't got a concert."

Jack and his team have started a petition to get the stage returned and are lobbying councillors to take action.

He said: "We need as much help and support as possible to make this concert successful."

Calderdale Council's Mark Humphreys, the Piece Hall's commercial manager, said that even if the stage were in place, Jack and his team would have needed additional staging.

He added: "A bandstand that had been in the hall for 12 years was taken down a year ago.

"It had only been intended to last three years and was past its useful life.

"Last summer we hired in a stage for events and we are intending to hire a stage for events this year that require it.

"The person organising the event would be expected to contribute to the cost of this.

"This particular concert is a big event and they would have had to bring some extra stage in, had we still had ours. There are health and safety requirements."

While they appeal for the stage's return, Jack and his team are also seeking sponsorship to cover the event costs.

They have raised funds themselves with a 48-hour sponsored fast, charity gigs and a male leg waxing session.

There will also be a 191-mile, 10-day coast-to-coast sponsored walk at Easter.

The Piece Hall concert is expected to attract about 4,000 people.

Jack has not confirmed his headline bands yet, but has already booked Huddersfield band Serotonin for a support slot.

It is the third concert he has arranged for Neurosurgical Research.

His two previous events in Halifax raised £5,000 for the charity.

Tickets for the Piece Hall concert will be available from April.

For tickets or to offer help, phone Jack on 07811129128 or email jack@inmc.co.uk