TV CHEF Keith Floyd has pulled out of Darwen's first food festival due to illness - after all tickets for his guest appearance sold out.

Now organisers, who featured him on the Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Drink, of which the Darwen event is a part, are offering refunds for 120 £40 tickets for An Audience with Keith Floyd at the Whitehall Hotel.

The chef cancelled all tours this year after being diagnosed with an ulcer, and being told he needs absolute rest. Organisers had hoped Keith would be well enough to do the event after an initial three month rest period, which finished this month, but doctors have told him he must rest for the rest of the year.

The search is now on for Keith's replacement with the hope that the event, with a five course gala menu of fine Lancashire food and drink, will still go ahead on September 8.

Keith's appearance at Darwen Library Theatre, including wine and Lancashire cheese tasting on September 7 has also been cancelled.

The news is a big blow for the organisers, who are putting on the food festival for the first time to promote Darwen and Lancashire.

The chef's agent Stan Green Management said: "After three months of rest Keith Floyd was told that sadly a further period of rest was needed until the rest of the year.

"We have unfortunately had to cancel his tour this year. He will be working again next year and hopes to visit the places he has missed including Darwen."

Coun Andy Kay, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "We are very sorry to hear Keith Floyd has had to cancel all his engagements which, unfortunately, include his appearances at the Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Drink at Darwen Library Theatre and the Whitehall Hotel.

"We are looking to secure a high profile replace-ment for the Gala Dinner event and we hope to make an announcement very soon." Keith Floyd's Darwen Library Theatre