TEMPERATURES and tempers soared when the air conditioning failed at the Cliffs Pavilion – but that didn’t stop 82-year-old comic Ken Dodd.

Mr Dodd didn’t disappoint the thousands of fans who had paid to see his show and he battled on until midnight.

However, his audience were left frantically fanning themselves with programmes on Saturday, including Anne Simpkin, of Greensward Lane, Hockley. She said: “When we arrived a vent in the foyer was blowing hot air, not what you expect on what was already a hot evening.

“Worse was to follow. During the show, it was so unbelievably hot many people left as it was obvious the air conditioning was not working.

“How Ken Dodd managed to be on stage without visibly flagging is a tribute to a brilliant old trouper.”

Marketing manager for the Cliffs, Paul Driscoll, said staff tried to help out as best they could. He said: “We did suffer problems with the air conditioning on Saturday night and staff did try to fix the fault immediately.

“An engineer was called and we hoped the fault would be fixed before the show started, but the extractor fan was on full power throughout the show and doors were kept open to allow for improved air flow.”