HUNDREDS queued from the early hours at The Regent in Christchurch to be the first to get Ricky Gervais tickets. 

Around 300 people queued outside  the theatre on Friday, May 10 to be the first to get tickets for the comedian's shows at the theatre on May 13 and 14. 

People at the front of the queue said they began waiting for the doors open at 4.30am and were gradually joined by hundreds of others with the queue spreading around the corner past Pizza Express.

While the comedy is meant to start on Monday, both brother and sister, Michael Kelleher, 68, and Marian Child, 70, began the jokes with Michael saying that 'he has always wanted to see Take That'.

Michael said: "There's been lovely people around and normally he plays big arenas and none of those are close to us. It's more intimate to be with us. 

"He says whatever he thinks and whatever he likes so people need to understand that people can have different views without saying that they can't expect those points of view and he used humour to demonstrate that."

Doors opened at 10am and closed within 20 minutes with staff telling the crowd that tickets had sold out. 

Although many were left disappointed, a lucky few managed to grab tickets including Joe Purver, 67, who was ecstatic. 

He said: "I was supposed to get here at 6am but I forgot my phone so I had to go home and get it. It's such a small venue and I can't understand why he's doing it to be honest, I think it was a bit of a surprise for everyone. 

"I used to find him quite cringey so I didn't really like him but once you get into it you realise everything can be funny."

Both phone lines and the Regent website reportedly crashed at 10am when tickets went on sale and some claimed that, despite the long queue, only 20 people got tickets on the door. 

One person who tried to get tickets online said they had seen tickets on sale for £200 each on the Viagogo website shortly after they went on sale to the general public. 

Several people have taken to social media to complain about the lack of availability to Christchurch residents, expressing that 'out of towners' have been given priority. 

One resident said: "So frustrating that it seems hardly any locals seem to have been able to get tickets and touts are already reselling at £218 each.

"Should have been for BH postcodes only to give priority to the people who regularly use the Regent and keep it afloat. Very disappointing."

Another said Christchurch has 'not seen anything like this since Henry VIII visited The Priory in 1510'.

One of Ricky Gervais' fans said: "Giving tickets to sell through ticket master and allowing people to buy six at a time, gives the touts a licence to print money.

"What happened to leaving some tickets for the local people who support the Regent Centre, year after year?"

The Echo has approached The Regent for more information.