Ed Sheeran tickets cancelled for NHS and emergency staff

Some NHS and emergency service workers who received promo tickets for Ed Sheeran’s Glasgow concert have had them cancelled hours before the gig.

They were bought under the Blue Light Card scheme – which also offers discounts to staff from social care sector and armed forces.

Ticketmaster said that its allocation of Blue Light tickets had been cancelled by the event organiser.

AEG Presents said the event at Hampden Park had been oversubscribed.

Sheeran played the first of two dates on Thursday and is due to perform the second on Friday night.

The singer songwriter is currently on his Mathematics world tour, which has taken in dates in Sunderland and Manchester.

One disappointed fan told BBC Scotland some members of his group had received cancellation notices but others had not.

He said he was unsure if he would get in and described the situation as “a shambles”.

Another fan, who contacted Ticketmaster via Twitter, said he received an email about the cancellation on Thursday night.

He tweeted: “Is there any real explanation or anyway to purchase anything else before I have a distraught seven-year-old kid?”

And one woman said the move had left her “absolutely gutted”.

She posted: “Totally shocking to treat NHS and emergency services like this.”

Lauren Dickson, a healthcare support worker from Glasgow, told BBC Scotland her Blue Light tickets were cancelled on Friday afternoon.

She said: “Hours before is not the time, they could have told people well in advance.

“I know staff that are coming from NHS Grampian, from Aberdeen, who have spent over £100 in travel and accommodation. None of that is going to be refunded.”

In a statement, AEG Presents said: “Unforeseen logistical circumstances have unfortunately resulted in an oversubscription to a complimentary allocation of tickets for tonight’s show.

“This has meant some recipients have unfortunately had their tickets cancelled. We will ensure that those affected will be invited next time Ed plays in Scotland.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”