Gary Barlow fans tweet their tickets frustration

Fans of the Take That star and X Factor judge clogged Civic Hall phone lines and its website before tickets went on sale at 10am yesterday.

The show sold out within one-and-a-half hours and tickets were being sold on online auction site ebay for three times their value in minutes.

Civic Hall bosses today expressed sympathy to people who missed out and said phones were busier than for any other gig. Barlow fans took to Twitter to vent their disappointment and plead with their idol to add extra tour dates.

Faye Starkey wrote: "So ticketmaster was down for half hour, by the time I got on there's no more tickets left for Wolverhampton. Nightmare." Meanwhile Justine Lane wrote: "Tried my best to get @GBarlowOfficial tour tickets for Wolverhampton Civic but failed sorry Mum."

Barlow, aged 41, reacted to demand for tickets for his 16-date tour by adding an extra date at Hammersmith Apollo and wrote on Twitter: "Sorry to everyone who didn't get tickets. We didn't know how strong the demand would be."

This week he announced he would perform in Wolverhampton on December 30 as part of his 16-date tour – his first solo tour in 13 years.

Tickets for the gig, worth between £35 and £55, were up for sale on internet auction site ebay within minutes of being made available, with some sellers asking for up to £300 a pair.

Civic Halls commercial manager, Rupert Knowlden, said today: "We experienced unprecedented demand for the tickets. The telephones were ringing off the hook. We spoke to a huge number of people and tried to offer our help.

"The website crashed due to the high demand and the phones were busier than we have ever known them."

Barlow's tour announcement sparked speculation he is set to quit his X Factor role, although the claims are denied by his team who say he will juggle his commitments.