A rock band have told of their disappointment after claiming they were "disrespectfully" kicked out of a free festival in Ashford.

The Furry Love Lickers, from Medway, were booked to play the Ashford Festival of Art and Technology in Park Mall, organised by the Centre for Creativity and Enterprise (CCE).

But three songs into their set, the members were told that the management team from the shopping centre were pulling the plug on the performance.

Drummer Robin How said: "Halfway through our first song I saw a man with a radio walking around.

"I saw him talking to the sound check manager. When we started our third song, he reappeared.

"Our singer had asked the sound check manager to turn the mic up because it had gone a little quiet, but she said: 'It's worse, we need to turn it off'.

It is understood that a complaint had been made to the management over the level of noise the band were making.

Band members – singer Cye Thomas, guitarist Phill Butler, bassist Kevin Hutchins and Robin – were forced to pack up and leave the shopping precinct.

"The worst thing for us is that the manager didn’t come and talk to us..." - Drummer Robin How

Mr How added: "We were drawing people in. There were certainly more people in the centre by our third song than our first.

"We saw people walking past, nodding their heads along with the music.

"The worst thing for us is that the manager didn't come over and talk to us.

"There was no respect in that manner. He gave us no apology. He just disappeared.

"We were booked in a while ago for the festival. We played it last year in a pub and we went down very well.

"They invited us back and said they’d like to put us on outside. We were looking forward to it. The festival organisers were very apologetic.

"We're not sure if they explained to the management of Park Mall what kind of music we played."

Betsy Aidinyantz, from the CCE, said: "It was a festival and things do get loud, but the management were responsible for what happens.

"They said there had been a complaint over the noise. It would be nice to know who complained though.

"We try and do things for the town, to draw people in. We can’t please everyone, but we have to work together.

"I was disappointed for the band because I love their music. They are very talented.

"We were supposed to be in the Lower High Street, which would have suited them better, but it was moved to Park Mall. Hopefully they’ll come back."

The shopping centre's management has not yet responded to KentOnline's requests for a comment.