IT WAS one hell of a squeeze, but for one afternoon only, five million punters crammed into the Woodfalls Inn on the edge of the New Forest yesterday.

Although the vast majority of them were listening on the airwaves, the presence of Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans presenting his Drivetime show from the pub ensured room at the inn was in short supply.

The broadcaster, best known for appearing on The Big Breakfast, TFI Friday and his Radio 1 Breakfast Show, not to mention his trademark ginger hair or marriage to pop star-cum-actress Billie Piper, was in Woodfalls as part of a week-long national tour.

Evans not only brought his full team along, but The Magic Numbers also performed live.

Throughout his two-hour show Chris repeatedly told listeners there were 25,000 people squeezed into the village pub, and it certainly felt like it.

Before going on air, he welcomed his audience with "some bad news - the bar is closing in seven hours".

Among the laughs and cheers I'm sure a few regulars were simply breathing a sigh of relief because it would take them that long to wade through the crowd.

But in truth there were only a few more than 100 lucky ticket holders, or at least that was the official line.

Landlady Pam Campbell said it was undoubtedly the biggest day in the history of the village, situated between Downton and Hale.

She revealed she hadn't even known the inn was entered into the competition to host Chris' roadshow.

"I didn't have a clue. I was out riding and came back and everybody said Congratulations Pam'," said the Australian-born publican, who described Chris as a "very down-to-earth, normal guy".

"I had to ask what for, but when they told me I thought it's all going to be party time and it's Christmas, so why not?

Not to be outdone, the award-winning Woodfalls Brass Band stepped into the limelight to entertain the nation with Christmas carols, and Chris chatted to several locals on air. One was Gina Beauchamp, who had a leg amputated as a child because of spina bifida.

After the show, regulars used the opportunity for a raffle to help towards the £20,000 she needs for an artificial replacement.