TWO major concerts planned for the summer are at the centre of a dispute over fees.

Every year, the Proms in the Park and Jools Holland concerts, at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, attract people from all over the North-East.

This year's events have been planned for Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2.

But organiser Glyn Laverick has not yet paid the fees demanded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which owns the site.

While Mr Laverick claims they should be waived as a charitable donation, the council argues the concerts are a commercial venture. It also says Mr Laverick has changed the dates without permission.

It has given Mr Laverick 28 days to pay, before revoking his license.

At a meeting of the licensing committee, Councillor Brenda Forster said: "I am very worried about this. I am not at all happy that he didn't bother to come here today."

Mr Laverick said he intends to pay the fees to ensure the events go ahead. He claimed he was given only one working day's notice about the meeting, and said he had sent letters to committee members explaining his viewpoints.

"There seems to be a distinct lack of communication at Redcar and Cleveland, and also apathy to the events we are putting on," he said.