Four petitions calling for Cali-R soul nights to be reinstated at Dunstable's Grove Theatre have been handed in to officials at South Beds District Council.

Around 1,000 signatures are believed to have been collected by campaigners fuming at the way promoter Sid Hudson's event had been treated.

After staging a Cali-R night at the Grove in May, Mr Hudson was told that future shows would have to be sit-down concerts with no DJs playing.

Unwilling to accept these conditions, the promoter shifted a performance by soul legends The Stylistics to Dunstable Leisure Centre.

But Mr Hudson maintains that his events - which are held in memory of the town's legendary California Ballroom venue - are suitable for the Grove.

At the latest full council meeting, Mr Hudson demanded to know why the restrictions were put in place, claiming that his event had been "eliminated".

He was told by Councillor David McVicar that the Grove was designed as a theatre, not a dance hall.

The portfolio holder added that the council fully supports theatre bosses for making the decision, and said employees at the Grove were not trained to oversee Cali-R nights.

Mr McVicar also pointed out that Leisure Connection - the company that runs the theatre - has an obligation to provide a balanced programme, but he said the council could not force it to hold a particular event.