EXTRA seats are being added to Elton John's concert in Worcester after the star's army of fans turned ticket lines "red hot" on the opening day of sales.

The New Road gig was originally going to have a 15,000 capacity, but the rock legend and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter has proved such a draw more seats are being installed.

Tickets priced between £40 and £100 went on sale at 9am on Monday morning, via the telephone and the internet, for the June 11 event at Worcestershire Cricket Club.

Extra phone lines and operators were needed to handle the calls.

Mark Newton, chief executive of the club, couldn't say how many more seats could be added - but it could take the audience size to 20,000.

"We wanted to sell 15,000 and I don't think that will be any trouble," he said. "The phones and the websites were red hot on the first day and ticket sales are going extremely well."

He added that the lines are open 24 hours a day for fans to snap up the remaining tickets.

The lure of one of the world's biggest stars means the club had also been "swamped" by requests for hospitality packages priced at between £150 and £225 per person.

Mr Newton hoped the gig would attract other music stars to play New Road in the future.

"There are a number of people of Elton John's stature who would revel and enjoy playing in this arena and as a concert venue it has some real pluses," he said.

"With 20,000 it can hold as many as an indoor arena and it has fantastic views. It is also in the city centre, with public transport links nearby."

The turnover in ticket sales alone will be around £1m and the gig will be the biggest concert ever held in Worcester.

Sir Elton's fame has continued to grow since he came on to the music scene in the early 1970s and hits including Your Song, Rocket Man, Daniel, Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Candle In The Wind are evergreen radio favourites.

The extravagant rocker was knighted in 1998 for his services to music and reportedly made £33m last year, to add to a fortune of £185m.