Pop star and TV actor Jimmy Nail has pulled out of a concert at Pennington's Variety Club in Bradford amid fears for his safety.

The 47-year-old Geordie star was due to perform at the club on Thursday but owner John Pennington said he was told by the celebrity's agents that despite his TV tough-man image, he was scared for his safety in the wake of the recent riots.

His cancellation is a big blow to Mr Pennington who said he could have sold 1,000 tickets for the concert but he has not given up hope of bringing him back in the autumn and said Bradford can bounce back from its troubles. He said: "I rang Jimmy Nail's management who were apprehensive about coming. They said he wasn't happy coming here in view of all the problems."