SOUL lovers are still waiting for a refund on their festival tickets - more than eight months after a power surge ended a music event early.

Disaster struck at Southend’s Soul Crusade Festival last May when a freak power surge destroyed the high-tech music equipment which was being used at the festival.

Many music-lovers at the event were left disappointed when it became clear that legendary musicians Soul II Soul would not be able to perform as a result of the power problem.

But the band have now announced they will be returning to Southend for a performance at the Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff in May.

Following the band’s latest announcement of their Southend visit, some punters took to Facebook to share their frustrations that they are still awaiting a refund for the tickets they bought last year.

Tina Carter posted: “And the refunds promised by the organisers of this event still haven’t been issued.

“They appear to have deleted all previous posts, in which they promised the refunds. Strange, that.”

Anna Gibbons also took to Facebook and posted: “Yep still waiting for my refund too. Won’t bother this time.”

Steve Cochrane, who was involved in promoting the Soul Crusade Festival, said: “The matter is in the hands of the insurance company but I can say that it is upsetting it has taken so long to sort.

“I must also say I tried to reschedule a performance of Soul II Soul in Southend.”

After the sudden end to the festival, a statement on the Soul Crusade Festival Facebook page, apologised for the incident.

The statement said: “We are truly gutted at the power loss for the final part of the show in the main arena.

“This was due to a generator that surged a live current instead of neutral and completely destroyed and fried half a million pounds worth of sound and lighting.

“Soul Crusade is an event we have passionately worked on since November and to say we are devastated is an understatement.

“It is something we never in a million years thought would happen and are truly sorry for spoiling the end of the show.”

The announcement of the show at the Cliffs Pavilion is good news for fans of Soul II Soul who missed out of their performance last summer.

General tickets for Soul II Soul’s performance at the Cliffs Pavillion went on sale yesterday.

Visit www.southendtheatres.org.uk/online for tickets.