Beware of bogus ticket companies

Now in its 11th year, the event has become a big draw for music lovers, but, sadly, also for fraudsters hoping to make a quick buck.

Organisers of the August bank holiday festival, which will feature the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Guns N' Roses and Yorkshire's own The Cribs, have been forced to issue warnings about bogus tickets.

Worldwideticketstore.com and Justtheticket.uk.com were offering Reading and Leeds tickets for sale but were not allocated tickets by Festival Republic and were not authorised to sell tickets on their behalf.

The sites in question have now disappeared from the internet.

"We would urge anyone who used these sites to contact their credit card issuer immediately and to also report the matter to their local Trading Standards office and the police," says a Festival Republic spokesman.

"If you have used this site and been told to collect tickets on site, please do not turn up at the event. There are no on-site collection points at either event and no tickets are held on behalf of either of the above companies for collection."

Those worried about having bought bogus tickets should visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk