Organisers of the Beachdown Festival have shocked ticket holders by revealing plans to hold an event next year.

Directors of the failed festival have released a statement saying new investment “may be forthcoming” and a Beachdown 2010 might go ahead.

Angry ticket holders say they are not interested in going to another Beachdown and just want their money back.

The plug was pulled on the music festival in Devil’s Dyke, Brighton, a day before it was due to start during August Bank Holiday weekend, leaving revellers up to £97 out of pocket.

Those that bought their tickets through major ticket vendors such as Ticketline received a full refund but others who went to local agents, including Resident Records in Kensington Gardens and Rounder Records in Brighton Square, are still waiting for news.

Beachdown directors said they had decided not to liquidate the company and may be able to offer people a “full or partial refund or tickets to the 2010 festival”.

It said details of next year’s event were “still under negotiation”.

Last night, Beachdown director Joe Pidgeon, who has put his £335,000 family home in Ditchling Rise, Brighton, on the market, said he was unable to comment because he was suffering from flu.

Ticket holder Tim Knight, who paid £184 for two weekend tickets, said he received an email signed “Beachdown Directors” saying free entry for ticket holders at next year’s event would be “a gesture of goodwill”.

Mr Knight, of Preston Park, Brighton, said: “This is laughable.

“Brighton deserves an all-encompassing, outdoor music-based festival.

But the public who bought tickets for Beachdown 2009, in some cases almost a year ago, should be refunded immediately before grand plans are drawn up for next year.

“I can’t see how they’ll attract decent acts – confidence in them, both within the music industry and among the public, is very low.”

Another ticket buyer, Ulrika Jarl, 31, said: “I am not interested in going to Beachdown 2010 – I want my money back so I can go to a different festival.

I don’t believe for a second it will actually take place.”

A Mid Sussex District Council spokeswoman said the licence to hold Beachdown had been granted for one year only.