Fans with fake tickets turned away from Paul Weller gig in Delamere Forest

Jun 17 2009 by Dave Goodban, Chester Chronicle

SCORES of music fans were turned away from a sell out show at Delamere Forest after inadvertently buying fake tickets from internet con artists.

More than 100 people were refused entry to open air Paul Weller concert on Friday night.

The Forestry Commission, which organised the gig, is advising anyone duped to go to police.

A number of those who bought fake tickets watched Weller from a nearby hilltop. “We were gutted,” said one of the people duped into paying £40 each for a pair of tickets on Ebay with a face value of £27.50 each. He hopes to get his money back via PayPal.

“There were around 120 fake tickets in circulation, and we would advise anyway who has been affected to contact police or Trading Standards because they have been the victim of a crime,” said event manager Rachael Miller.

“We are very sorry for the people affected and sympathise with their situation.

“All 5,500 tickets for Paul Weller sold out as soon as they went on sale in late January. Unfortunately, there are some very unscrupulous people who take advantage of situations like this to make money.”

Head of policing in the area Insp Phil Hodgson said: “A scam of this magnitude is very unusual and extremely disappointing.”

The Forestry Commission said no similar problems were encountered on Saturday and Sunday nights when indie favourites The Doves and Welsh opera sensation Katherine Jenkins performed.