A lifelong fan was not ‘feelin’ alright’ after his favourite band cancelled just hours before the gig was due to start.

Graham Sharpe, 66, has followed Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam since the 60s, attending a lot of his shows and buying most of his vinyls.

And he and his wife, who live in Pinner, were keen to see him perform again at The Alban Arena on Wednesday. But after calling the venue to double check the start time, he was startled to hear that Mason had cancelled the gig due to a cold.

Mr Sharpe said: “I have been buying Dave Mason and Traffic albums for best part of fifty years. I won't be buying anymore.

“There was nothing on Dave Mason's official website to say that he was unwell, or even apologising for cancelling the show.

“I would have wasted a couple of hours travelling had I not become aware it was cancelled; others could have come even longer distances.”

But since the cancellation, Mr Sharpe has received an email from Dave Mason himself.

It read: “I assure the reason the show was cancelled was because it was me who caught a cold and was put on voice rest.

“You might have noticed that this happens to me from time to time, even in the US when I tour, and even though I take all the necessary precautions.

“I guess it’s part of being a performing artist at the age of 70.”

The performer also said he was “distressed” to hear Mr Sharpe was unlikely to attend any future gigs and offered the dedicated fan free merchandise.

Mr Sharpe said: “I will always love much of the music Dave has made over the years as a solo artist, with other artists and in bands.

“I’ll continue to listen to and enjoy his music as I have done since the 1960s. I think, though, that whoever runs his website has let him and his fans down – and risked damaging his hard-won reputation- by not up-dating it to explain the cancellation.”