Torch relay celebration: chaos as thousands apply for free tickets

The free giveaway opened at 9am to those living in a BH postcode, with tickets restricted to 8 per household.

But online, those trying to get tickets were faced with "No availablity" notices as soon as they went on sale at BHLive.com.

@Bournemouthecho nope, all gone online by 9.03, can't even get into queue on phone as so busy, now in queue at bic. It's a joke.

— Sharon Valler (@SharonValler) June 15, 2012

Others were told tickets were available only to discover they had disappeared again when they reached the "choose seat" screen.

Callers to the BH Live 0844 pay-per-minute ticket line were told the queue was full and to call back later.

Bournemouth council tweeted that half the tickets had gone by 9.25am but by then many had given up trying to book online.

Tickets for Evening Celebration on the Beach to welcome the Olympic Torch going fast - 4,700 tickets gone in the first 25 minutes!

— Bournemouth Council (@bournemouthbc) June 15, 2012

@Bournemouthecho It's sheer demand unfortunately - more than 4.700 tickets sold in first 25 minutes. Advice from BIC is keep trying

— Bournemouth Council (@bournemouthbc) June 15, 2012

Others complained that accessible tickets were not available online, only from the BIC box office.

@Bournemouthecho Utter farce as you can't buy accessible tickets online then have to phone queue with everyone else!

— goldencaesar (@goldencaesar) June 15, 2012

Hundreds queued up from 8.30am to try and get their share of the 10,000 tickets.

All the tickets had gone by 10.30am.