Legendary 'art' rockers 10cc have pulled out of playing at a Kent music festival.

The band, who had a string of hits in the 70s, had been booked to play the fledgling Chickenstock music festival in a farmer's field between Sittingbourne and Maidstone at the end of the month.

But the organisers have admitted the group – whose hits include Dreadlock Holiday, Rubber Bullets, The Things We Do For Love, I Don't Like Cricket and I'm Mandy Fly Me – will no longer be appearing.

Moya Taylor said: "We're good to go but due to unforeseen circumstances leading to contractual issues, 10cc won't be playing."

She said she could not go into details.

"We are obviously disappointed but we have The Undercover Hippy closing the festival instead."

Her partner Beth Taylor revealed at the start of the year how they had first booked the band.

She said: "It was one of those really lucky moments. We saw them at the Cropready Festival and they were fantastic. We were so blown away by them that I took down the details of their tour manager.

"I emailed him out of the blue on the off chance to see if they'd like to play Chickenfest and to all our surprises they have said yes."

The group, which now only boasts one original member in the shape of Graham Gouldman, had just announced a new Greatest Hits tour for the UK.

Gouldman said: “It’s difficult to express just how much we have missed playing live and how much we want to be back playing concerts."

The band originally formed in Stockport in 1972 with Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. They had written and recorded together since 1968.

Last year the festival, which began as a private birthday party bash in a back garden, was one of the first to go ahead after a Covid lockdown but was limited to half capacity.

This will be its fourth year - 2020 was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The four-day festival will feature 22 acts including Skinny Lister, Tankus Henge, Gentlemen of Few, Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter, Bamboozle and The Bar-steward Sons of Val Doonican.

Moya said: "Advance ticket sales are already ahead of this time last year. We have refunded money to some people who were only coming to see 10cc but the majority are happy with the rest of what we have on offer."

Tickets are £89 for four days and limited to 3,000 (under-16s go free with an adult) from here.

There is also camping but no tickets are available on the gate because of licensing requirements.

Single day tickets for Sunday, July 31, when 10cc would have performed, are still on sale for £45.