Daniel O'Donnell fans start queuing for tickets two days before they go on sale

With their sleeping bags, puzzle books and endless supply of biscuits, you would be forgiven for thinking these three women were in the middle of a camping holiday.

But Lorna Hickton, Elaine Dymond and Sharron Guest have actually pitched their tents up outside De Montfort Hall – to be the first in line when tickets for their hero, Daniel O'Donnell, go on sale tomorrow morning.

The dedicated trio arrived yesterday morning, two days early, but say braving the cold and rain is worth it to get front-row seats for his show in April.

In fact, they are planning more of the same when tickets for other shows across the country go on sale next week.

Lorna, 66, has travelled from Nottingham to get her tickets.

She said: "We've got to wait until Saturday morning but it's worth it. We've got everything we need here to keep us going. Nothing stops us."

Elaine, 57, of Barnsley, said: "We get tickets for friends and they get some for us. We've got friends queuing in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Llandudno at the same time."

The trio have been fans of the Irish singer for more about 20 years and met while queuing for a show about 10 years ago.

Sharron, 52, also of Barnsley, said she had been to about 500 shows.

She said: "He's just a genuinely nice guy and he loves his fans. He considers his fans as friends.

"He knows all our names. We were queuing in Birmingham on December 12, Daniel's birthday, and he came to the tents in the night to see us."

They have queued at venues up and down the country, but the diehard fans say De Montfort Hall is one of the best. "Everyone here is really friendly," said Elaine. "And they let us use the toilets. Some places don't."

Dedicated as they are, Daniel's female super-fans were beaten to the front-place spot by Michael Foyle, of Lincoln, who spent Wednesday night sleeping in his car as part of his quest.

The 64-year-old had popped to the shop when our photographer arrived, but came back in time to tell the Mercury about his bid for the best seats in the house.

He said: "I'm queuing for me, my wife, daughter and granddaughter. We really appreciate Daniel's music and what he does for fans.

"We've followed him pretty much wherever he's been.

"I've stayed here many times. We're all like a family now."

The Leicester Mercury was unable to get in touch with Daniel yesterday, but on his website he notes: "Without the people who follow me I would not have this life."