Tourists stay away over fears of attack

Fear of possible terrorist attacks on the anniversary of 11 September is keeping thousands of people away from some of London's top tourist attractions.

The BBC's Proms ticket sales have fallen by 50 per cent for one of its most popular concerts; there has been a dramatic drop in the number of pre-bookings for the London Eye, recently voted the capital's top tourist attraction; and a London school has cancelled an educational trip to the Science Museum because parents were believed to be worried about the safety of their children.

Sales for the Proms' main feature with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall has sold only 3,000 tickets - last year it was a sell-out, filling the venue's 6,000 capacity.

A BBC Proms spokeswoman said: "We can only assume that these low figures have something to do with 11 September.

"All the other concerts this week look like they will attract capacity houses."