FOR most bands a frosty reception is something to be avoided but Wirral electro pop stars Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) have managed to turn a negative into a positive. 

Earlier this month, the Enola Gay hitmakers, played a huge homecoming gig at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

But despite a warm welcome from the adoring crowd there was a chill in the air with many of the audience seen wearing coats and the band themselves remarking on how cold it was on stage. 

It has now been confirmed that the arena's heating was not turned on properly with OMD saying they have received an apology and an amount of financial compensation which they are now donating to food banks in Wirral and Liverpool.

A statement from the band said: "A couple of weeks ago we played the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.

"We all had a fantastic night but there was a problem with the heating in the venue leading to the auditorium being unusually cold throughout the concert despite the heat being generated by everyone dancing! 

"The venue have offered us a level of compensation for this oversight. OMD and AEG (our promotor) have both decided to donate all of this money to food banks in Liverpool and Wirral to help those in genuine need, on behalf of all of our Liverpool and Merseyside fans."

OMD formed in Wirral in 1978 with founding duo and principal songwriters Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals).

The band have achieved 14 top 20 entries on the UK Albums Chart, as well as global sales of 40m records.