Touts vie to profit from free concert

So many Live8 tickets are available for resale that touts have come to blows as they fight each other to get rid of them, it emerged today.

An Evening Standard investigation found a number of unauthorised sellers by the park's Apsley Gate openly selling tickets - which were issued free - at prices ranging from £100 to £200. In one confrontation, a tout headbutted another as tempers flared.

Tickets have also appeared for sale on the internet, prompting concert organiser Bob Geldof to condemn their sale on eBay at up to £2,000 a pair as a "f***ing disgrace".

Today a computer programmer who sold more than £20,000 of tickets through his website defended his actions. The site, www.live-8-tickets.co.uk, has sold over 200 tickets. It still has dozens of tickets available at up to £400 a pair. Even VIP tickets are on sale.

The man behind the site, who would not reveal his identity, admitted he feared for the safety of his family as the backlash gathered pace. But he said: "What I'm doing is not illegal. Everyone thinks that the law of St Bob applies, and that I am doing something morally wrong - but I am just taking advantage of the demand."

Evening Standard investigation found about 10 touts at the park gates this week. Many openly shouted "tickets" at passers-by as police community support officers stood a short distance away. When asked if he had tickets, one tout replied: "How many do you need?". He said he could get five for £200 each from an "office" nearby.

But when the Standard reporter said he would think about it and walked away with a second tout offering tickets for £100 each, a violent confrontation took place.

After shouting that he had already agreed to sell our reporter "five bottles", the first tout approached the second one and warned him off - before being told to "f*** off". He was then headbutted. The first tout was joined by a colleague who said they should "do him" before chasing the aggressor away.