Pat Smith, 61, and Carol Orr, 41, are willing to go to great lengths to secure front-row seats for their pop idol's shows.

And the fact that their hero's image is more geography teacher than Manic Street Preacher does not dent their hardcore support.

Swathed in blankets and armed with flask, sandwiches and reclining garden chairs, Pat and Carol set up camp at 8.30am yesterday morning outside the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne.

Their mission: To secure tickets to see Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell - more than 24 hours before the box office opened this morning at 9.30am.

They are convinced the £21.50 front row tickets for O'Donnell's one-off show on April 2 will sell within hours.

Both have seen the 'Irish Cliff Richard' perform dozens of times since becoming entranced by his velvet tones ten years ago.

Pat, of Upperton Road, Eastbourne, said: "I remember borrowing a video of him in concert and thinking, 'Wow'."

"He has got it all. A beautiful voice, handsome looks and a lovely personality.

"He treats everyone the same whether you are nine or 90. Whenever he walks past, he always stops to speak.

"We love going to see him. We've seen him across the country, in Brighton, Bournemouth and in Ireland, too. We never tire of seeing him."

O'Donnell broke a million middle-aged hearts on November 4 when he married businesswoman Majella McClelland, 40, in County Donegal.

However, Carol, of Langney, Eastbourne, said: "Good luck to him. He deserves all the happiness in the world as he's such a nice man."

Theatre bosses believe the 1,680 tickets for the Eastbourne date will sell out within hours from first thing this morning.

Spokesman Amy Turner said: "We're expecting a sell out. When he last came to Eastbourne six years ago, they sold out within hours.

"It's going to be a stampede here later."

The Argus yesterday arranged for Pat and Carol to receive signed posters from O'Donnell when he arrives in Eastbourne.