THEY are set to inject some much-needed support into a struggling Southampton music venue.

Last night the pulling power of The Vaccines flexed its muscle as local fans queued in freezing conditions to bag one of the last remaining tickets for next week’s gig at The Joiners.

Details of the benefit event were only released on Tuesday, with tickets selling out within five minutes the same night.

The Joiners website was effectively taken offline after 6,000 hits were logged in ten seconds.

But 100 of the precious tickets were left up for grabs for the loyal fans who were prepared to do it the old fashioned way and queue.

The line began forming just after 5pm, with a snake of people winding its way along the adjoining alleyway.

Organisers were prepared, and issued raffle tickets to the first 100 on a one-per person basis, ensuring no one was waiting around in the sub-zero temperatures only to be left disappointed.

Alex Funnell, 19, a business student at Southampton Solent University, was one of the last to get one of the tickets that went on sale at 7pm on the door.

“We are really pleased, we may be students and skint but this will be a great gig so we had to try.”

James Hardy made sure he got his hands on a ticket by arriving not long after 5pm. “It is all worth it to get a ticket,” he said.

The Vaccines, whose frontman Justin Young grew up in Southampton, are the latest band to lend their support to the ailing venue, which faces an uncertain future because of dwindling audiences.

The resurgence was led by Frank Turner last month and according to bosses at the St Mary Street venue more acts are being lined up.

Manager Pat Muldowney said: “We have been very happy with how it has gone so far. It is great of bands like The Vaccines to help us out like this. We are really looking forward to next week now.

“Loads of the top bands have played here over the years so it is great when they come back to support us when they hear about the situation we are in.”