TEENAGERS travelled to York from all over the country to see London pop sensation Blazin' Squad perform - but it still wasn't the frenzied affair some had expected.

Up to 40 people who had won tickets for the special charity gig at Fibbers last night failed to turn up, said venue boss Tim Hornsby.

And he said the band's manager was amazed there weren't 200 screaming fans outside.

"It's really odd," he said. "We put it down to people not being able to travel up for it."

But he said the 150 fans who did come had enjoyed the evening, making it a "really nice night."

The concert was one of a series of Back To The Bars shows to be held at small "Barfly" venues across the country in aid of Shelter and War Child, featuring big-name acts.

People applied for tickets by paying £1.50 to enter a "lottery-style text messaging draw," and organisers Passport said that because they had not committed large sums in advance, a number of ticket holders had failed to turn up at each event.

A larger number might have been unable to come last night because Blazin' Squad fans were generally so young, and reliant on parents for transport from all over Britain.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, March 03, 2004