A man who spent hundreds of pounds to take his disabled son to the Beachdown Festival has condemned the way music fans have been treated.

Stephen Saunders spent £790 on a tent for himself and son Jack, ten, to give the youngster, who has cerebral palsy, his first festival experience.

When the 50-year-old learned that the event had been cancelled he tried to contact the man he had been dealing with at Beachdown, Julian Ankersmit, for a refund.

But instead of his money back he was sent an email saying Mr Ankersmit hoped his issues “will be resolved in some way”.

Originally Beachdown directors, who pulled the plug on the four-day event on Wednesday, a day before it was due to start, told revellers they needed to contact the people who sold them the tickets.

In many cases this meant internet sellers like Ticketline and SeeTickets or local shops in Brighton.

But in some instances the organisers were taking money directly into their own company account and are now simply offering those customers their “best wishes”.

Mr Saunders said: “Jack was looking forward to it so much, it was his first festival and he loves music.

“It was a big deal for him and I just feel appalled at the way I've been treated.

“£790 is hard earned money for me. Some stupid impersonal and unhelpful response won't bring that back.”

When The Argus tried calling Mr Ankersmit's mobile phone a voicemail said: “As you will be aware Beachdown is cancelled and as a result I have no job and I have had to separate my ties with Beachdown.”

The voice adds: “I hope that this sorts itself out and I give my condolences to everyone affected which includes myself who has not been paid for the last two months. Everyone has lost out.”

Future Festivals director Joe Pidgeon said most people had bought their tickets through third-party vendors, the main one being Ticketline, and that people needed to contact those vendors to get a refund.

But Mr Saunders, a part time carer for his son, was asked to pay directly into the Future Festivals Lloyds account.

The company’s offices in North Street, Brighton, are now closed and there is no phone number to call.

Ticketline have said its customers should send back their tickets to Beachdown Dept, Ticketline, PO box 4061, Manchester, M60 1YT by Friday for a face value refund.