Nearly 100 tickets for Powderham Castle’s summer music spectacle, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend have been dished out to Teignbridge councillors.

Earlier this month, music fans across the district were left disappointed after missing out on tickets, but it turns out members of the council will be able to enjoy the event without going through the painstaking process of applying online.

Liberal Democrat councillor Gordon Hook said: ‘I can confirm that all Teignbridge councillors have been offered two tickets.

‘Personally, I won’t be using mine, but hope to find a couple of youngsters in my ward who would like to go and wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

‘I understand that there is a handling charge of £8.50 per ticket and a transport charge, so the “free” tickets aren’t actually free.’

A slightly less than impressed Cllr Hook, added: ‘In my opinion the council should not be involving itself in this event and most certainly public money should not be used to subsidise a pop concert.

‘There is literally hundreds of other and better uses for this cash.’

When asked what he would like to see happen with the 92 tickets that Teignbridge residents were so desperate to get their hands on, Cllr Hook added: ‘If the council has tickets to give away then they should be given to those who were unable to get tickets – disadvantaged children, perhaps?

‘With a little forethought and planning, Teignbridge could make this a very special weekend for some who would very much appreciate it’, he added.

Both Teignbridge Council and Exeter City Council paid £100,000 each to help fund the concert.

Cllr Hook complained: ‘If I were leader of the council, I would start by offering any free tickets to the many wonderful residents who do voluntary work in our communities. I certainly wouldn’t be giving them to councillors.’

District and county councillor Alan Connett, ward member for Kenton, agreed: ‘I’m delighted the Big Weekend is at Powderham and am sure it will be a great weekend.

‘However, I think all the tickets should go to local people.

‘There are residents who applied but were disappointed.

‘I have not applied or asked for tickets – and I won’t be taking them.’

When we tried to contact Teignbridge Council, they referred us to the BBC, who referred us back to the council.

Earlier this month 50,000 tickets for the event were released and snapped up in just over an hour, leaving many residents frustrated.

The summer spectacle, which takes place on May 28 and 29, will see the likes of Coldplay and Ellie Goulding take to the stage.

The 1975, Chase and Status, Bring me the Horizon, Jake Bugg and Craig David have also been added to the bill, with the full line-up being announced on Monday on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Scott Mills.

A spokesman for the district authority said: ‘Teignbridge and Exeter were both given an allocation of tickets by the BBC.

‘As part of our partnership with Big Weekend, we can confirm Teignbridge has an allocation of tickets that we will be offering to staff and councillors.

‘If they are successful, councillors and staff are free to use their pair of tickets personally or pass on as they see fit, provided they agree with strict BBC conditions.’