PENSIONERS desperate for tickets to see clean-cut Irish crooner Daniel O'Donnell in concert are camping outside Hereford Leisure Centre.

Fans from Worcestershire and Herefordshire, as well as further afield, have been bedding down in sleeping bags since Tuesday in the hope that their dedication will ensure front row tickets.

Manager Iain Hayes said the first couple, from Newbury, in Berkshire, arrived at 10.30am on Tuesday.

"There's one bloke and the rest are women," he said.

"Most are pensioners, but there is one mum-of-five."

Tickets for the gig, on Thursday, March 27, will be on sale from 7am on Saturday.

"The queue is just short of a dozen at the moment, but we expect 500 tomorrow," he said.

"They're all in the fan club and seem to know each other."

O'Donnell, who has clocked up millions of record sales and performed concerts in Ireland, England and Australia, recently wed sweetheart Majella McClelland in Donegal.

Tickets cost £21.40 and £19.50 from the leisure centre on 0870 746133.