Huge queues for Irwin ceremony

Free tickets for the Steve Irwin memorial service at his Queensland zoo were snapped up in 15 minutes.

It was announced earlier this week that Irwin's public ceremony would be taking place in his 'Crocoseum' within the grounds of the zoo.

The Crocoseum only holds 5,000 people and demand heavily outweighed supply. However, the ceremony will be televised and be made available on giant screens around the area.

One woman told Radio 1 Newsbeat that she had been queuing for over 20 hours and was fairly emotional by the end of it.

People who got tickets reportedly danced around and waved them in the air, while some wept with joy.

Melissa Power, from Brisbane, told the BBC: "It's indescribable. I've haven't slept and am so over-emotional. I'm looking so forward to it. To honour such a great Australian."

The event will be broadcast live next week in Australia, the US and Asia.

Irwin was killed when a stingray's barb flicked up and pierced his chest, His wife Terri has organised the Crocoseum event because Irwin was so proud of the venue.