DANNII Minogue has apologised to thousands of disappointed fans after failing to appear at this year's Power in the Park.

The Australian singer was due to perform at the free pop festival on Southampton Common on Sunday but cancelled at the last minute.

According to a spokesman for Dannii's record label WEA, the singer was forced to cancel all her engagements from Saturday morning onwards after contracting the stomach bug gastroenteritis.

As well as Power in the Park, she dropped a BBC Radio 1 slot and a performance at London nightclub GAY.

In a statement to the Daily Echo, Dannii said: "I am so sorry to have not been able to play at Power in the Park this weekend. I was unwell and told by my doctor to rest."

She added: "I look forward to making it up to my fans and playing in Southampton in the future."

According to her record company, there are no immediate plans for a UK tour, however.

Rachel Andrews, 15, of Heathlands Road, Chandler's Ford, was one of the disappointed fans expecting to see Dannii perform.

"I was looking forward to seeing her on stage. I said to my friends 'Is she going to come on?' but they didn't know. Then it got to the end and she just didn't come on."

Power FM programme controller Stuart Davies said: "We found out very late that Dannii wasn't going to be coming. One of the DJs made an announcement - it certainly wasn't kept a secret."

He added that he thought the concert had been a great success overall.

"Now we're looking forward to an exciting ten-year anniversary event next year which will be even bigger and better than ever."

DON'T FORGET - You can order your Daily Echo pictures from Power in the Park by going to: www.thisissouthampton.co.uk/powerinthepark