EXCITED fans flocked to the district today for the eagerly-anticipated first day of Bingley Music Live.

But there was disappointment for some visitors, who had bought fake wristbands for the event and were refused admission to Myrtle Park.

Revellers also had to contend with a rail strike as they arrived and left the festivities.

In a warning issued today, Bradford District Police advised people to “only buy tickets and wristbands from official vendors.”

The police spokesman said: “There are a number of fake/stolen wristbands in circulation which are being sold in Bingley. People with only the wristbands and not a ticket will be refused entry at the gates.”

One of those to fall victim was a 15-year-old from Bingley. He said he and a group of friends totalling around 30 people bought the bands online two weeks ago, only to collect them from outside the festival grounds and discover they were not real.

He said: “I had no idea at all it may be a scam. I paid £75 for an adult weekend ticket two weeks ago but I believe some have paid £50 and others £80.

“I am absolutely furious about it. It is a lot of money to lose. The website seemed genuine. We got email confirmation and everything.

“We were told the wristbands would get us into the festival and we would pick up tickets inside. But when we tried to get in the organisers stopped us and told us the wristbands were fake.

“Police already on site were alerted to it and the guy we got them from was arrested and handcuffed.”

A police spokesman confirmed this saying: "Police arrested a man in his forties, from Manchester, on suspicion of fraud at Bingley Music Live, at Myrtle Park."

The three-day event was getting under way today with performances from Maximo Park, Twin Atlantic and headliners, the Manic Street Preachers.

Kate Anderson, 35, of Bromley, Kent, came to Bingley to see her favourite band, the Manic Street Preachers, along with her fellow devoted fan, friend Emily Hyatt, from Nottingham.

She has seen the Welsh group more than 100 times since 1998, travelling to Finland and Germany and now Bingley. She said: “It is great to come to a beautiful place like this. It’s great here, it’s a really good vibe.”

Travelling from a little closer to home were friends Tracy Williamson, Rochelle Harness and Kaya Capper, of Keighley, who were dressed for the festival as a duck, penguin and flower respectively.

Richard Greenwood, 35, of Keighley, said: “I’m looking forward to the Kaiser Chiefs. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.

“Bingley is getting more popular each year.”