Ticket touts will be banned from using automated software to bulk-buy concert and sports tickets in the New Year, ministers have pledged.

The Government said it had notified the European Commission of plans to implement a ban on the use of "bots" which get around online protections and buy up tickets in larger numbers than is technically permitted by sites.

A new criminal offence will leave touts facing unlimited fines for breaching the rules.

Ministers said they were acting after tickets for Hamilton, the US musical recently transferred to the West End, were re-sold for up to £6,000 each and concerts by singers including Adele and Ed Sheeran were also targeted by professional touts.

Matt Hancock, the minister for the creative industries, said: “We’re determined to make sure 2018 is the year we help real fans get the chance to see their favourite music and sports stars at a fair price.

“We’ll be acting to stamp out the growing problem of touts misusing technology to scoop up vast numbers of tickets only to sell them on at rip-off prices.

“Our work, together with improvements by industry, will help make the market more transparent and mean a great year for Britain’s thriving live events scene.”