Police have arrested a man and a woman in connection with a large scale ticket fraud involving events including a Beyonce concert.

A 31-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman from North Weald were arrested at the end of May on suspicion to defraud and have now been bailed until November.

The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation which began when several people were turned away from a Beyonce concert at the Phones 4 U Arena in Manchester after producing fake tickets at the turnstiles.

Police say hundreds of people were duped into buying the fake tickets from a number of online sites.

Detective constable Mike Dermody said: “In each case the victims believed they were buying genuine tickets and arranged to meet the seller at locations near to the venue where they handed over cash in exchange for the tickets.

“The fraud only came to light when the victims tried to enter the concert venue and security staff noticed the tickets were fakes.”

DC Dermody added: “Throughout the investigation we have unearthed a number of similar offences across the country.

“There is no doubt that there are still victims – and potential suspects – we haven’t yet spoken to and I urge anyone who has been sold fake tickets in such a way to get in touch.”

Anyone with information can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 quoting log PSUB/B3 of June 19.