A consumer watchdog is warning music fans to take care when buying tickets online for music festivals and other events.

Consumer Direct, the government's consumer advice service run by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), says punters have fewer rights when they buy privately and getting their money back when things go wrong can prove a real headache.

Consumer Direct spokeswoman Michele Shambrook said: "We receive a lot of calls from people complaining about tickets not being delivered, seats in the wrong location and counterfeits. If you want to be sure you will get the tickets you pay for, book tickets through official channels.

"Online auctions are a popular alternative but you may not really know who you are dealing with or where they are based, and you may be faced with highly inflated prices. If you have a problem, your options are also limited so it's important to know what to look out for and what your rights are."

The warning comes as the Isle of Wight Festival kicks off today, featuring bands including The Prodigy, Foo Fighters and Coldplay. ®