A post shared on social media at 6.40pm read: "Due to a venue-related technical issue, tonight's A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show will no longer go ahead. We kindly ask fans to leave the area.

"Tickets holders will receive further information in due course."

"We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many," it added.

Concertgoers were supposed to have been allowed into the arena at 6.30pm and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, real name Julius Dubose, was due to perform at 8pm, according to the venue's website.

In a post Instagram, the US rapper said the cancellation was due to "something [that] happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck".

"We are working on rescheduling in the next few days," he added. "I'm heated about the situation too, but safety first.

"Manchester, I got you. Just stay tuned for further info."

Co-op Live bosses had sought to reassure fans that tonight's show would go ahead and shared instructions for attendees just hours before the cancellation.

Many fans have shared their disappointment on social media, with some questioning if Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming concerts at the venue will go ahead as planned.

The Good 4 U singer is due to bring her GUTS world tour to the Co-op Live this Friday and Saturday.

With a capacity of 23,500, the Co-op Live will be the UK's largest arena when it's fully open and was built at an estimated cost of £365m.

Headaches for the venue became clear last month when the capacity at a test event was reduced with just hours' notice.

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Rick Astley had been due to perform to 11,000 arena workers and VIPs on 21 April but at the last-minute, thousands of people saw their tickets cancelled.

The venue was due to fully open with Peter Kay stand-up shows on 23 and 24 April, but these dates were pushed back at the last-minute amid behind-schedule tests and safety concerns.

Kay's fans were initially told the shows would take place just days later - but they were then postponed again, for a month's time.

US rock duo The Black Keys were also due to take to the stage during Co-op Live's opening week. Their gig was previously pushed back to 15 May.

Co-op Live's general manager Gary Roden announced his resignation last week following the initial setbacks.