A concert has been cancelled because fewer than one in ten of the tickets were sold.

The Sussex Symphony Orchestra was to perform Handel's Messiah with a choir of 600 at the Brighton Centre on December 1.

The one-off event was billed as the biggest performance of the piece in history. But just 376 of the 4,000 seats were sold.

Mark Andrew-James, music director of the SSO, said: "I've absolutely no idea why so few tickets have been sold. It seems to be apathy on the part of the people of Sussex.

"We put posters up all over the place and gave out leaflets. It has taken us two years to organise this. and now it's going to have to stop.

"I'm devastated. We wouldn't even have broken even with an audience of that size."

Mr Andrew-James considered moving the concert to a smaller venue, but decided it would be unfeasible with such a large number of performers.

Singers were taken from 17 choirs around the county and from abroad.

Mr Andrew-James said: "It was excruciatingly embarrassing phoning some of the biggest names in world music to say we've had to cancel because we haven't sold enough tickets.

"It makes us look incredibly bad. It's very upsetting for everyone to have to cancel.

"I know some people will still turn up on the evening to buy tickets, but hopefully as many as possible have now been warned."

Tickets for the performance ranged from £8 to £12.