BOX office computers crashed when news of a concert in Taunton went viral on social media.

Hundreds of people from Somerset and Devon overwhelmed a ticket booking website for the performance in Taunton last this year.

All seats at the concert on October 7, featuring Elgar’s popular Cello Concert with top cellist Jonathan Ayling and symphony orchestra OrchestraWest, were snapped-up as soon as they went on sale.

Moments later the website went down leaving many people without tickets and concert organisers stunned by the exceptional demand.

“That is the power of social media,” said OrchestraWest’s chairman Chris Davies.

“Extra box office staff were on duty because we knew the concert would be popular, but no-one could have predicted the tidal wave of bookings.”

Now Mr Davies and the orchestra’s conductor Oliver Gooch are having to console the hundreds of people not lucky enough to buy tickets.

Mr Gooch said: “We would love to repeat this concert to offer this great experience to more people, but I'm afraid our resources won't run to that.

"I enjoy every minute conducting in Taunton because, as the demand for tickets shows, the town has such a loyal and supportive audience for the best-loved fine music. That is truly heartening.”

The concert, which includes Brahms’ 1st Symphony and Verdi’s Overture from The Force of Destiny, is at St James Church, Taunton at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 7.