Concert-goers could avoid being ripped off by ticket touts by making purchases in person, a spokesman for a major venue said today.

An investigation by The Argus revealed touts are buying up tickets for big concerts at the Brighton Centre and then selling them on at vastly inflated prices on the internet.

Wendy Walton, programming and marketing manager at the venue for 16 years, said gig-goers could avoid being ripped off by visiting the box office on the morning tickets went on sale.

The box office will make sure that everyone in the queue is served before it starts selling tickets by telephone.

Ms Walton also wanted to make clear that the Brighton Centre is not responsible for the ticket tout problem and is actively lobbying for legislation to make this form of profiteering illegal.

The Argus investigation revealed that just minutes after tickets went on sale for gigs at the seafront venue they were reappearing on the internet for up to five times their face value.

On the internet auction site eBay, two tickets for Il Divo's concert at the Brighton Centre on March 30 were on sale for £299.

Two tickets for the Kaiser Chiefs on April 25 were offered for £102.

Ms Walton, who left her post last Friday for a new job at Stanmer House, said: "We in no way condone ticket touting.

"It is a big problem for us but the difficulty is there is really nothing we can do as long as it is legal and there are people willing to pay such inflated amounts.

"If we get someone who is a known tout trying to buy tickets we won't sell them.

"But for the most part it is not individuals doing this.

"There are ticket tout companies which are sophisticated operations.

"It is virtually impossible to deal with but anybody who comes to the box office on the morning the tickets go on sale will get one at face value.

"They are guaranteed to get a ticket without paying any booking fee or extra costs."

Ms Walton said the Brighton Centre was working with other bodies to put pressure on the Government to bring in legislation making touting illegal.

It also wants to see tighter control being exercised on unscrupulous traders by eBay and similar sites.

Ms Walton appealed to the public to exercise its consumer power.

She said: "My advice is don't buy from touts. As long as there is a demand for this it will continue.

"If you know tickets are going on sale for a show try to get to the box office in the morning."

A city council spokesman said "We're members of the national Arenas Association who were lobbying the Government last November on this.

"Without legislation it's going to be hard for us to act.

"It would need a law saying only the primary vendor - say, the Brighton Centre or its agents for Brighton Centre shows - could trade in tickets.

"We're all used to selling or buying tickets in a fairly unregulated way but it's certainly a shame if real fans can't see their favourites because someone is profiteering."