EIGHTIES pop star Toyah's Worcester gig has been cancelled amid claims the Press linked the comeback with her protest over the planned Throckmorton asylum seekers' centre.

In an e-mail to Brian Marr - the owner of the Marr's Bar venue - her booking agent blamed "timing and recent Press" for the pull-out.

But her management's official line is that "commitment" to a TV show is behind the move.

Despite cancelling the Sunday, June 16 show, she is still booked to appear at London's Ronnie Scott's the day after.

Two days before the Sunday, May 19, asylum seekers' centre protest at Throckmorton, the Evening News was approached by Adrian Molloy, strategic manager for music company Discipline Global Mobile.

Mr Molloy, who is responsible for Toyah's management, arranged an interview with the star at the protest.

Two days later, the Evening News was told of Toyah's comeback at Worcester's Marr's Bar - yet, soon after, Mr Marr received the e-mail from booking agent Bob Paterson, saying the Worcester gig was off.

"We can no longer do the show - purely because of timing and in light of recent national Press and the local Press that has allied her asylum protesting with a comeback," he stated. "I will call you to discuss and hopefully plan a rescheduling."

Mr Molloy said he was not aware of the e-mail and claimed Toyah - who lives in Pershore - cancelled for booking reasons, not media coverage.

Conor Nolan, of PR agency CnC Associates, could not comment on who made the decision to cancel.

"We've had to postpone because of commitment in London on the Friday and Saturday where she'll be filming a surprise TV show for Channel 4."

Neither Mr Paterson nor Mr Marr were unavailable for comment.