REPORTS of the demise of a stately hall are greatly exaggerated.

But the National Trust is having to spend thousands of pounds on letting people know that neither foot-and-mouth fears nor other problems have derailed its summer programme of events at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough.

Earlier this month, the trust withdrew permission for a Proms in the Park and a Jools Holland concert being promoted by Glyn Laverick, who also fell foul of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Now, incorrect rumours have circulated that all concerts and events at the hall are cancelled this year.

Ormesby Hall events manager Ian Brockbank said: "The phones are going all the time with people checking. We want to scotch the rumours."

A tribute band concert takes palce at the hall on July 7 with the Bootleg Beatles, Platinum Blondie and Magic, who play the songs of Freddie Mercury and Queen.

The National Trust is spending more than £8,000 advertising the July 7 concert, making it clear that only the Jools Holland and Proms concerts on June 2 and 3 were cancelled due to contractual problems with Glyn Laverick and not foot-and-mouth.

Mr Brockbank said: "We want to avoid the knock-on effect of these two things having people think that all the events have been closed and that the concert is not going ahead. Nothing could be further from the truth."