Fans of the pop band Keane have been paying huge amounts of cash to see their heroes at a homecoming gig.

The pop trio are due to play at Hastings Beer and Music Festival in Alexandra Park on Thursday, June 30.

Tickets, priced £25, went on sale in April and sold out within hours, with 11,000 people applying for 6,500 places.

Those who missed out have been paying up to three times the original price on the internet auction site eBay.

Keane, originally from Battle, agreed to play the festival because they wanted to say thank you to fans who supported them from the beginning.

They also wanted to help support St Michael's Hospice in Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards, which will receive the proceeds.

The father of one of the band members is a trustee of the hospice.

It will be the first time Keane have performed a concert in the area since they shot to international acclaim.

Tim Pilbeam, chairman of the festival and a member of Hastings, Battle and Bexhill Round Tables which organises the event, said he was disappointed people were making money from a charity gig but it was only to be expected with such a popular band.

He said: "We were not surprised the tickets went on eBay.

"The face value is about £25. They have been going for an average of £50 to £70."

"It is a shame because as far as we are concerned the whole concept of the event is to raise money for St Michael's Hospice and to pay back their local fans in a local venue.

"It is a shame people are profiting but that is the society we live in now."

Mr Pilbeam stressed only a small number of tickets had been auctioned for what had turned out to be the most popular event ever staged by the festival.

He said: "For a town like Hastings it is a fantastic situation to be in."

Keane, whose album Hopes And Fears went multi-platinum, were last week named songwriters of the year at the Ivor Novello awards.

Singer Tom Chaplin said: "The last couple of years have been absolutely amazing for us - the success we've had and the places we've seen have exceeded our wildest expectations.

"And while it's always nice to go away, it's even nicer to come home, so this show will be a very special night for us, playing for the people who gave us the inspiration and encouragement to pursue music in the first place."

Organisers have warned it will not be possible to see the concert from outside the park.

There are still tickets left for the other three nights of the festival available from the Hastings Information Centre on 01424 781128 or the festival helpline on 01797 230466.