Rhapsodic fans pay touts £350 for a ticket

Black market tickets for Queen's first concert in nearly 20 years changed hands for £350 each - seven times the official price of £55.

The group, who had not toured since 1986 - five years before lead singer Freddie Mercury's death from Aids - played to a packed house.

Fans arrived at Brixton Academy to see the band with former Free singer Paul Rodgers up to four hours before the doors opened, some having travelled hundreds of miles.

Sam Hoe-Richardson, 34, from Putney, said: "One of my greatest regrets is not having seen Freddie perform live. No one will ever be able to replace him but Paul Rodgers did a brilliant job.

"His voice sounded fantastic and he gelled really well with Brian May and the rest of the band. It was an incredible concert - I'll remember it for ever."

Chris Broome, 28, a dentist from Lincolnshire-said: "Paul Rodgers has a totally different voice to Freddie - more husky - but because the songs are so strong it didn't in any way detract from the band's performance."

His wife Sarah, 27, a teacher, added: "Brian May was the star of the show. His guitar playing was mind-blowing and he sang quite a few songs as well."

Steven Pritchard, 45, from High Wycombe, said: "Even though Freddie wasn't there you somehow felt his presence. His face was flashed up on video screens and they used his vocals for Bohemian Rhapsody. It was magic."

But Fraz Smith, 62, from Kent, said: "Paul Rodgers wasn't up to the job. You could hardly hear his voice and he didn't have anywhere near the charisma or charm of Freddie."