Touts may be a thing of the past if new legislation is introduced, allowing tighter controls on re-selling of tickets. The BBC reports that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has praised moves to introduce clearer resale information and exchange facilities, making ticket touting harder. Jowell discussed the moves with industry chiefs on Thursday (8 February) and said that stricter rules may have to come into play for "events of national importance" such as the forthcoming Concert For Diana.

"We want to address the problems faced by fans - paying through the nose for a ticket with a poor view or handing over cash for a ticket that never existed,” says Jowell. "Progress has been made but we're going to continue to work with the industry to cut off the commercial opportunities for ticket touts and stamp out unfair practices. But it would be unfair if consumers were unable to sell their own tickets, for whatever reason, and get their money back - we don't want to criminalise genuine fans."

However, the Concert Promoters' Association has called for new laws banning ticket resales outright.