A COMEDIAN at the centre of an investigation over cancelled bookings and lost money on Wearside has been dropped from the bill of a comedy club.

Mark Rough was due to appear at the Get Serious Comedy Club, at The Royalty pub, Sunderland, on September 13, but has now been axed from the bill.

Police have been looking for Mr Rough, from Bradford, since last Thursday, when 200 people each paid £10 for tickets to see TV comic Lee Hurst at the Fnnr Fnnr comedy club, at The Smugglers pub, Roker seafront.

The star of BBC's They Think It's All Over confirmed he had never been booked to appear on Wearside.

Get Serious club boss Mark Barrett said the comedy evening would still go ahead on September 13, but with a new headline act.

Sunderland CID is investigating an alleged deception and want to speak to Mr Rough