IS THERE a doctor in the house? Sadly it seems not, as Dr Hook were forced to cancel their Poole gig after lead singer Ray “Eyepatch” Sawyer broke his leg. The accident has meant the entire UK tour has been pulled, including the Lighthouse on October 18.

In fact, 2015 has become the “annus horribilis” for the 78-year-old American whose band's hits include Sylvia's Mother. Incredibly this is not the first limb-break of the tour for the singer. Earlier this year, gigs were cancelled when Sawyer fell and broke his arm.

Announcing the cancellation of the Lighthouse show, communication officer Susie Carver told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: “There is no return date and our ticket office has been in touch with customers to issue a refund.”

The first accident happened just a few weeks into the tour that had started in Bournemouth in March, as he broke his arm on the eve of a gig at Torquay. He tripped on a kerb as he walked through the petrol pumps at a service station near Swindon. It is unclear how he broke his leg, although it is stated on a Facebook fansite that he actually broke his hip in July!

Norwegian fan 'Per' states: “Many asked me how is going with Ray after he broke his hip in July; as far as I know Ray had a lot of pain and cancelled tours for two months. The UK final tour is still on. I will keep you posted soon as I got any news. The most importing thing is Ray to get well again and hopefully get on stage again!”

Whatever the exact nature of the injuries it is clear the Poole show will not be rescheduled. Dr Hook's ability to pull off an emotional ballad made them one of the most successful bands of the seventies and eighties with scores of gold or platinum hits. Sawyer and Dennis Locorriere became central characters of the band with their crazy on stage antics. The original Dr Hook line-up split in the mid-eighties. Ray and his Dr Hook band have been criss-crossing the country in what has been their first UK tour for many years.

: For more information about refunds please contact the Lighthouse box office on 0844 406 8666 or at lighthousepoole.co.uk.