Angry Beachdown ticketholders have been left reeling by the news the festival has been cancelled.

Publishing worker Donna James, from Brighton, was among those who had picked up a day ticket for £33 at the last minute.

She said: “I can’t believe they have let people do this.

They must have known they were going to have to cancel it and they have sat there and watched people buy more tickets.

It’s disgraceful.”

She was among hundreds of people to try to contact organisers only to be greeted by unanswered phones.

Martha Robinson, of Preston Park, Brighton, spent more than £1,000 on tickets for 17 friends, some of whom were coming from France.

She said: “I just read the hippified statement on the website talking about how they were personally shattered.

“But it’s not good enough.

I want solid reassurance and detailed advice about how I can get this money back.

“We had 18 people in total.

We had persuaded them that this was worth coming all the way to Brighton for.

They booked ferries and hotels and now there is no festival to go to.

“I bought the tickets over the phone with Beachdown and now there is no number and no indication how I can get my money back.”

Last night, ticketing companies said they were working towards reimbursing customers. Internet ticket vendors usually only pass money from ticket sales to festival organisers when the event takes place.

Neil Greenway, from www.efestivals.co.uk, said people who bought tickets through Beachdown’s main agents Ticketline and Seetickets should be eligible for a refund.

He said: “A ticket vendor came to me and asked me if Beachdown was safe.

I said possibly not so I don't believe the money has been passed on to the organisers and should be there to be returned.”

In May, one vendor, Trinity Street, declared insolvency and Beachdown said it would honour the tickets.

However, it is thought only those who paid by credit card will be insured.

Beachdown said: “We ask all ticket-holders to get information from the outlet that you purchased the ticket from in the first instance and once again we will do everything we can to get as much information as we can to everyone as quickly as we can.”

Lawyers said most people would be able to claim back money spent on tickets bought with credit and debit cards under the Consumer Credit Act.