ANGRY ticket hopefuls confronted organisers when spaces for the Olympic torch celebrations on Bournemouth beach sold out.

People started turning up at the BIC from 7am hoping to grab the free tickets available from 9am to see the flame arrive and the entertainment on stage.

The queue quickly spread down Exeter Road and most of them left happy after collecting up to eight tickets each but groups at the end of the queue were left disgruntled.

And their frustration was compounded when the tickets were put up for sale on the internet.

Lynn Wareham, from Parkstone, was one of those left without tickets.

She said: “I’m really upset as I’ve got a disabled lad who would be made up to get down there.

“It would’ve been a dream of a day for him.

“I didn’t see anywhere that it was opening at 9am.”

She will now be hoping she can gain one of 20 spots reserved for disabled people for her 24-year-old son Tom.

The Olympic torch is arriving in Bournemouth on July 13 and will be seen carried through to the town to the seafront, where 10,000 ticket holders will watch a two-and-a-half-hour show.

A total of 7,000 tickets available yesterday were sold by 10.23am.

Organisers halted telephone and internet sales to prioritise those queuing at the BIC after 2,000 tickets were sold in three minutes, although many reported being on hold for up to 90 minutes on the BH Live 20p-per-call, 6p a minute ticketline.

Fabi Norris, Michelle Feast and Kate Nix were next in line when the five ticket offices shut.

“We were right at the door,” Fabi said.

“So we were disappointed.”

Michelle added: “We’re gutted.

“At 9.07 they had sold out online so we decided to come down.”

Bournemouth Borough Council said of a further 3,000 tickets being held back many are reserved for the hundreds of participants in the show from the community.

The staff working the event were also part of that figure and 500 tickets have gone to local young people attending the school games that day.

The torch relay sponsors were also issued with 500 tickets each by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Sue Bickler, who chairs Bournemouth Borough Council’s Olympic Task Force, said the event was always going to be oversubscribed with demand unprecedented and they are not able to exceed the 10,000 capacity for safety reasons.

She said: “We are really sorry if people were unable to get tickets as they hoped.

“However there will be a celebratory atmosphere right across the town and we would encourage as many people as possible to come and line the route.”

She encouraged others to visit celebrations at Slades Farm on the Friday afternoon or the next morning at Boscombe Beach.

Lucky ones were delighted

THE show on a stage close to Bournemouth Pier will include chart-topping artist Wretch 32 plus Twist n Pulse, who were runners up in the Britain’s Got Talent final 2010.

In addition the council is providing two ten minute performances on the night working with local entertainment groups including Pavilion Dance and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a cauldron on stage will be lit with the Olympic flame.

• Sheila Murray, 73, from Bournemouth, said: “My friend was trying online and it said no tickets so we’re glad we came down.”

Sandra Reeves, 63, from Littledown, said: “I’m really pleased because we got eight tickets.”

• Irene McNally, from Pokesdown, got tickets with her daughter Jade, as her other daughter Nicole will perform at the show. Irene said: “We had to get a ticket and I planned to come down as it’s a risk trying to phone.”

• Kaycee Wakefield, 35, from Northbourne, said: “I’m really excited because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We thought coming down for tickets would be the safest bet.”

• Claire Buckett, 39, from Parkstone, said: “I’m relieved to get tickets as I’ve got two children who are performing in the dance and I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Gemma Stone, 21, from Parkstone, added: “I did get a little bit worried because the queue was busy when we got here.”

Chris Kenton, 58, from Parkstone, said: “It was part of the experience to come here for the tickets and I’m really pleased I came down.”