A BRIDEGROOM was left stranded after he turned up for his stag night to find the venue he had booked boarded up.

Gareth Evans, aged 25, is due to marry his fiancee Julie Churchman, aged 33, on June 12.

Best man and brother Lee, aged 23, had the task of organising the all important stag party and opted for a day of go-karting at Cat 1 Karting in Radcliffe.

The Water Street venue was hired for the brothers and 10 of their friends and the £30 a head cost -- a total of £360 -- was paid up front in January.

But when the party arrived for their long-awaited day on the track last Saturday they were greeted with locked doors and boarded up windows.

Lee said: "It was a bit odd really. I couldn't understand why no one had gone in.

"We were gutted. I planned it six months in advance on purpose and feel responsible for losing everyone's money.

"It was lucky the FA Cup final was on, at least we had something to fall back on!"

Gareth said: "We were really up for it and were excited, so it was horrible.

"I felt about two inches tall because all my mates had paid the money for this to happen and it's too late to arrange anything else now. I just hope it's not an omen for the wedding itself."

When Lee rang the number on his receipt he got through to Karting 2000, based in Gorton, and was told that Cat 1 Karting had closed two months ago and that they had bought the telephone number for business reasons.

Toni Goodwin, from Karting 2000, said: "All we know is that they have been closed for about two months and that the owner is apparently abroad.

"I am sympathetic about what happened and we did offer them a discount at our track, but unfortunately we are completely unconnected to the other company."

A member of staff from Spanners, a car repair workshop next door to Cat 1, said: "We have had several people coming in asking about it, but as far as we know it has been closed since about February."