A public concert by the Royal Marines Band in Portsmouth has been cancelled as band members are committed to Operation Fresco, providing military emergency cover during the firefighters’ dispute.

The concert was scheduled for St Mary’s Church in Fratton tomorrow evening, Thursday January 16, and was one of a series of such events which attract average audiences of 400 people.

Anyone with pre-booked tickets for the cancelled concert will be contacted by the Royal Marines School of Music concert secretary and a full refund made as soon as possible. The secretary can be contacted on 023 9272 6182.

This week’s performance was to be the fourth in a series of six training concerts held each year, allowing student Bandmasters from the RM School of Music in HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, to perform in public with a band or orchestra.

Over the years such concerts have built up a considerable public following, and organisers say that, subject to operational needs, there is no intention to cancel the remaining two concerts planned for February 27 and March 13 at the same venue.

A Royal navy spokesman said: “It is with great regret that we have to cancel this week’s Royal Marines Band concert in Portsmouth.

“We appreciate the programme is a highlight of the musical calendar in the city and audiences will be disappointed.

“However, all Royal marines Band events are always liable to changes, depending on operational demands, though cancellations are rare, and we do our utmost to fulfil public commitments.

“There are two concerts remaining in the programme and we look forward to seeing music-lovers there.”