Promoters have asked to hire Maldon Town Hall for the staging of wrestling events.

Maldon Town Council was approached by promoters LDN to stage the wrestling events at the venue on Market Hill, where a similar event was last held in 2007.

However, the application to hire the hall was referred by the Town Clerk to the town council's Finance Committee as there was an issue with the last booking of a wrestling match there.

At a meeting last night (Monday, 17 January) committee members heard how in 2010 a wrestling match was cancelled shortly before it was due to take place. As a result, a number of those who had bought tickets came to the Town Hall to demand a refund from the town council.

Scott Bray, speaking at the meeting on behalf of LDN, told councillors that everyone had received a refund from the company in the end and claimed that the cancellation had been due to an issue with obtaining the temporary event notice required on time - a problem which could be rectified for future matches.

Health and safety concerns about the events, which would be for audiences of around 130 to 150 people, were also raised by councillors.

Committee chairman, Councillor Andrew Lay, said: "I think consideration of this application is about the suitability of the Town Hall venue for wrestling in 2022."

Councillor Martin Harvey said: "I am a fan of wrestling, but I do have concerns about the health and safety requirements as they are now and the size of the venue. In honesty, I think it could be too small."

However, wrestler Phil Bowers, also speaking on behalf of LDN, assured councillors that wrestling rings come in different sizes and that one of suitable dimensions for the venue would be used.

He added: "Wrestling has been part of this country's heritage for many years. We are very tame compared with what you see on TV and what we put on is a family show.

"It is a Victorian sport which suits this Victorian town very well. I do find it quite upsetting that I can't perform in Maldon on the mud, but we really want to be able to put wrestling on again for the people here."

The councillors agreed that a way forward would be to put together a list of questions and documentation, including insurance, that they would like to receive from the company. The issue will then be presented to full council on 11 April for a final decision.