Tony and pals 'sneaked' in and saw the Fab Four

Tony McGovern didn't have a ticket to see The Beatles when they performed in North Staffordshire in the 1960s – but just three shillings secured him a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The retired Royal Doulton employee, now aged 66 and living in Cheviot Drive, Bradeley, managed to buy his way into the Trentham Gardens gig in October 1963.

He explains: "It was a Friday night and me and three friends were having a drink in the Sneyd Arms, in Abbey Hulton, pondering what to do that night.

"The Beatles were on at Trentham Gardens that night but we didn't have tickets.