WYCOMBE Wanderers fan Lucy Dodds queued for five hours to buy FA Cup semi-final tickets for her family then lost the lot four hours later.

The 32-year-old part-time receptionist said: "When I got the tickets I felt like a hero but I don't feel like that any more. I haven't even been able to tell my sister about it."

She put all eleven £35 tickets in her purse when she went to the Turnpike pub in New Road, Cressex, and lost the purse. She believes it has been stolen and has reported it to the police.

She said: "I was feeling so good about getting tickets for all the family that I thought I would have a drink to celebrate. People knew I had 11 tickets because I was so excited. I think someone has taken them."

Wanderers staff remember her buying the £385 worth of tickets, which were for her family, last Saturday.

But Wanderers secretary Keith Allen said: "We have contacted the FA and Villa Park but they have told us that there will be no duplicate tickets issued. The club are extremely sympathetic and trying to help but there's very little we can do."

Now Miss Dodds, of New Road, says she is dreading the biggest day in the town's history.

She said: "I'm not even going to be able to watch the match on television.

"I couldn't stand even looking at a football now because I feel I have let everyone down.

"I was so excited about going to the game. I had bought a flag and a Wycombe Wanderers scrunchie to go in my hair and now I don't even want to think about it."