RAP star Akon caused chaos after turning up nearly three hours late for a gig in Manchester.

Hundreds of fans packed into the Second City Suite on Oldham Road to see the US singer perform his chart-topping hits.

But the rapper and his entourage failed to turn up when they were due on stage at 8.30pm and concert promoters could not track them down.

Fights began to break out among the restless crowd and some fans said the concert hall descended into chaos.

By the time he eventually arrived on stage at 11.20pm many of the fans had already gone home and the star performed a few songs to a depleted audience.

Fans who were let down are now demanding a refund for their £30 tickets.

They say they were `lied to' by officials at the venue, who made regular announcements that Akon was `in the building' hours before he went on stage.

Rowdy

Joanne Parkin, 38, from Swinton, took her 16-year-old daughter Chloe and a friend to the event. The trio left at 11pm because the atmosphere was `too rowdy'.

She said: "It was a joke. Everyone was expecting Akon on stage at about 8.30pm. The organisers kept saying `Akon's in the building, just another five minutes to go,' but they were basically lying to us.

"I paid £104 for the three tickets, including the booking fee, and that amounts to more than a week's wages for me. I'm furious and I want my money back, but so far I've got nowhere."

Shana Campbell, from Monsall, is five months pregnant. She said: "Akon came on stage at about 11.20pm and wasn't even on for an hour - and on top of that didn't sing his most famous song, Lonely. Lots of people left at 11pm thinking he wasn't going to turn up so it was empty when he came on stage."

Concert promoters Global Entertainment say the mix-up was not their fault and no refunds will be provided.

A spokesman said: "Akon and his entourage were booked into the Hilton Hotel at Manchester Airport. However, sometime during the day they checked out and went to the Lowry Hotel without telling anybody where they were.

"We arrived at the Hilton to collect Akon for the concert, but he wasn't there and it took us a while to track him down at the Lowry.

"However, he did give a performance, and it wasn't our fault he was late, so we will not be providing any refunds."

Apology

Akon returned to the hotel after his concert and apologised personally to two fans who tracked him down.

Paul and Debbie Sarginson left the Second City Suite before Akon arrived on stage and returned to their home in Withington, disappointed they had not seen the rap star.

Paul, 30, decided to ring one of the numbers on his ticket to complain. He said: "I got through to someone who said he was sitting next to Akon and would we like to come to the Lowry and meet him.

"So we jumped in a taxi and went there. He posed for pictures and apologised about the show. It was great to meet him but when you add up the tickets and taxi cost, it comes to £300. It's the most expensive photo I've ever taken."

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