Take That fans brave the cold for tickets

They've endured freezing temperatures, lashing rain and a hard, cold pavement - but nothing was stopping Take That fans from getting their hands on tickets.

With sleeping bags, flasks and bags of food, they put up tents outside Villa Park before dawn yesterday and waited for the box office to open at 9am today.

Aston Villa officials opened up the club's academy to shelter those fans without enough equipment to brave the elements.

Numbered wristbands indicating places in the queue were handed out and friendly stewards also fetched hot drinks during the night. At the front of the queue this morning was supermarket worker Lorraine O'Neill, aged 46, of College Road, Kingstanding, who was with 16-year-old son James.

"It's my daughter's birthday on the day of the concert, she loves Take That so we decided we would do whatever it takes," she said. "We don't mind waiting because we know it's going to be brilliant.

"I've got a week off work so it's not like I've got any other commitments. I've never done anything like this before. There's been some good banter." Self-employed carer and mother-of-three Shelley Howe arrived earlier than 3pm yesterday to pitch her tent and secure her place in line.

The 29-year-old, of Coventry, said: "I've been to 12 Take That concerts before. I've liked them since day one. It means everything to me to get tickets."

Her camping partner health care assistant and mum-of-two Sarah Rawlings, 27, also of, Coventry, said: "We've got sleeping bags, extra clothes, food and drink. We watched them announce the tour online. We were on the phone to each other screaming. I'm looking forward to seeing them sing Relight My Fire and Everything Changes."

Kerry Mattey, 17, of Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield, studying photography at Birmingham Metropolitan University, said: "I didn't think they would come to Birmingham. I'm glad they have. I can't wait for this tour. I've seen them at the NEC and in Coventry before. You need to be at the front. If you're on the second row, you might as well be at the back."

Mother-of-three and Staffordshire University history student Georgina Bould, also brought a tent and daughter Lily, 16. The 41-year-old, of Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, said: "I was absolutely insanely excited after they announced the tour."