Four young JLS fans were left distraught after discovering they were victims of an online ticket scam.

Karen Burtenshaw paid £145 for tickets for her daughters Sami, 16, and Lydia, 14, and two friends to see the X Factor stars at the Brighton Centre on Tuesday this week.

To their horror, the website where they bought the tickets, magnitudeevents.co.uk, has been revealed to be a scam.

The Burtenshaws, of Stanley Avenue, Mile Oak, Portslade, and friends Jodie and Jessica Holloway found out only a week before the gig that they would not be receiving any tickets.

Mrs Burtenshaw paid by bank transfer and has been told she cannot claim the money back.

But she said: “This isn’t even about the money. I just feel so sorry for the kids. They were so excited when they heard JLS on the radio. Now when they hear them they will just be reminded of their disappointment. It’s the first time I have bought tickets online and I never will again.”

Sussex Police are investigating after receiving about 50 complaints. The website has now been shut down.