SOLD OUT! Flying Scotsman tickets at the Severn Valley Railway all gone

There were 7,000 tickets avialable to see the famous train and its counterpart the Tornado travel between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster.

But there was chaos yesterday as the railway's website crashed leaving hundreds unable to get tickets, despite the best effforts of staff on the telephones and at the station in Kidderminster where there were long queues.

A statement on Severn Valley Railways Facebook page said: "We have sold out of public tickets for Flying Scotsman & Tornado trains during the Pacific Power event. Tickets are still available for normal services operating during the event.

"We will update our website on availability for the SVR Charitable Trust Flying Scotsman day on Wednesday 21st September. Announcements will be made during Wednesday, April 6."

Some of those without tickets reacted angrily on Severn Valley Railways Facebook page.

Roz Hickman said: "One extremely disappointed family here! Had we have been given the opportunity to try to get tickets it would not have been so bad. But disorganised to the point of mayhem springs to mind. A totally wasted day for many including myself."

Sharon Sharples said: "The disappointment and stress you have caused to myself and many other people is totally unacceptable. From a very disillusioned SVR supporter."

Paula Lenk said: "What a joke. And I had tickets in my basket for it then to crash. Furious is an understatement indeed."

Nick Ralls, the SVR's general manager, offered his apologies to those left frustrated by their bid to buy tickets.

He said: "This was always going to be a hugely popular event and due to the unprecedented levels of demand, we did encounter some problems with our website.

"We'd like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to thank people for their patience while we work hard to meet the demand."

But some were lucky enought to get tickets and praised staff.

Natalie Mawer said: "3 of us spent all day pressing redial and, we did get through a few times.Once to be told we had to ring back as the systems had crashed and once to be cut off. Eventually got through at around 6pm to secure our tickets."

Heather Hide said: "I was lucky live in Kiddy so went to booking office, managed to get tickets, waited in the cold for an hour and a half and I would like to say to the staff well done. The customer care was first class."