Tech-savvy touts who use computer programs to mine for concert tickets in vast quantities before selling them for huge profits are to face unlimited fines.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will announce the measure in a crackdown on resale websites where tickets are sold at many times their face value, blocking fans from seeing their favourite artists.

One secondary ticketing website, Viagogo, was last month accused of "moral repugnance" for reselling tickets to an Ed Sheeran cancer charity gig for up to £5,000.

And an £85 seat to see Adele at the London O2 last year was reportedly being sold online for £24,840.

Automated "bots" can get around security measures designed to limit ticket purchases and snap up hundreds of tickets as soon as they go on sale.

Almost immediately, the tickets appear at vastly-inflated prices on resale sites, which also include GET ME IN! and StubHub.

But the use of bots will now become a criminal offence and touts who break the law will face an unlimited fine.

Culture minister Matt Hancock said: "This profiteering is simply not fair, so we are acting to put fans first and improve the chances of seeing our favourite musicians and sports stars at a reasonable price.