TWO friends say they were left stranded by a ticket agency who gave them the run-around in Ireland minutes before a George Michael gig.

Margaret Sturdy and Angela Smith paid £250 months in advance to see their idol and booked a weekend away in Dublin.

But they said that when their tickets failed to turn up, Ticket tout.com gave them a string of excuses before the pair returned home without seeing the superstar perform.

The web-based company has the slogan "where nothing is ever sold out".

But mother-of-one Margaret, from Stockton, and care home worker Angela say they have been left out of pocket.

A manager at the company told The Northern Echo that a credit had been made back into Angela's account this week but she said nothing had appeared by last night.

Admin worker Margaret, 43, said: "They have just been fobbing us off.

"When we arrived in Dublin we were told the tickets were getting delivered to the hotel. Then we had to go to another hotel to meet a courier, but he wasn't there and instead there was a group of 12 other people waiting for their tickets too.

"We were left watching crowds of people walk into the venue and that was horrible. We had been looking forward to it for three months."

Since the friends returned from Dublin they have contacted Tickettout.com almost on a daily basis.

They were sent last minute tickets for a gig in London but because of the short notice, the women could not make it.

When they complained again, they were told a cheque for the full £250 would be sent by special delivery yesterday, but Angela said that nothing had turned up.

Margaret said: "We are really fed up with all the excuses. We just want our money back - it was their mistake and we haven't had an explanation."

A manager from Tickettout said: "A credit of £250 has been made back into the account and two complimentary tickets were sent for another venue.