WHEN tickets for a Daniel O'Donnell concert go on sale tomorrow Ada Smith is guaranteed to be first in the queue - because she arrived 116 hours early!

Ada, 67, of Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn, is one of a band of seven die-hard fans who have been camping outside King George's Hall since Tuesday lunchtime to be sure they bag front-row seats.

The brigade of fans, who describe queuing for tickets at the Irish crooner's concerts as "a way of life", includes an entire family from Ormskirk who regularly spend weeks away from home queuing at venues across the UK.

Gill Westergren, 46, who is queuing with her parents, pensioners Cyrille and Margery Lomas, described the reasons why the fans are prepared to endure the elements for weeks at a time just to be sure of being close to their idol.

Gill said: "We have to be sure of getting front row seat. You get used to having that personal contact and being able to make eye contact during the concert.

"Daniel knows all of us by name and at the end of all the concerts he always stays until he has met everyone who wants to meet him. The queuing is a way of life. We know everybody and we've made a lot of friends."

Ada added: "Some people say we're mad, but you don't find many other artists who will meet their fans like Daniel. I only queue in Blackburn and people here often stop to chat to us."

Margery Lomas, 67, said: "He's a beautiful singer and a nice person. He's the only man I'd sit out waiting for like this!"

By the time the 1,800 tickets go on sale at 10am on Saturday, half an hour before they are available by phone, the queue is likely to stretch past Blackburn College.

A spokesman said all tickets were expected to sell out on Saturday.