It was a big day out, but not in the way organisers intended.

As tickets went on release today for Visit Kent’s Big Day Out, a queue almost to the front door of Maidstone Town Hall, built up as computer problems hit the network.

The Big Day Out, takes place on March 28 and sees thousands of free tickets offered for tourist attractions across Kent.

People can print tickets from home or go to Visitor Information Centres.

A small group of people had already formed outside the Town Hall, in Maidstone High Street, at 9.30am on Tuesday, half an hour before the tickets became available.

That group grew to around 25 people by 10.45am.

Ron and Maureen Stacey, from Maidstone, secured tickets to the Canterbury Tales, after an hour-and-a-half.

Mr Stacey said: "The tickets kept printing out with "specimen" on them, which would not be valid.

"The staff at the town hall were brilliant and they got there in the end. You could say it will be two days out - the Canterbury Tales and Maidstone Town Hall."

As the first ticket was printed out, just before 11am, the queue broke into a round of applause, and town hall staff also rallied round and found chairs for those waiting.

Ruth Wood, development manager for Visit Kent, said: "There was a glitch this morning, which has now been fixed.

"Anyone who left a Visitor Information Centre with a specimen ticket will be have their validated voucher posted to them."