Thousands of tennis fans were left disappointed when the official website selling tickets for next month’s hotly anticipated Davis Cup tie in Glasgow crashed.

'Tickets were supposed to go on public sale at 7am on Thursday for Great Britain's crunch semi final against Australia at the Emirates Arena, and many fans got up early to buy the briefs through governing body the Lawn Tennis Association.

However, a promised link failed to appear and minutes later the tickets were sold out - with ticket tout websites instantly selling the briefs for upwards of £500 each, more than five times their original face value.

Fans took to social media to voice their outrage at the “shambles”.

Alison Cherry from Glasgow tweeted: “Completely scunnered. Sickening that online touts can profit this way. How did they get them?”

Scott Brown from Dundee posted on Twitter: “The sales procedure has been shocking. Required ID from a named buyer is an easy way to stop touts.”

Debbie Carey added: “Never published link on LTA website, site crashing from before 7, so where did all the tickets go?”

Some were doubly disappointed after already missing out on Tuesday, when tickets were offered to clubs and affiliates through the LTA.

Lorraine Gronan tweeted: “Many on Tuesday had tickets but got kicked out at payment bit. Shambles.”

A message on the British Tennis website at 7am said there were “technical issues”. Minutes later the body posted a tweet saying all tickets were sold out.

By 7.15am, ticket website Viagogo was advertising briefs at £600 each and Stub Hub had tickets on sale at £500.

A statement on the LTA website said: “Due to technical issues experienced via our website this morning we were unable to publish the ticket link for the Davis Cup Semi-Final 2015. We understand that this would have been frustrating for those hoping to purchase tickets.

“The vast majority of customers purchased directly through Ticket Factory, our ticketing provider, or via the venue website.

“We are currently working with our service provider to get a full picture on why the issues occurred."

Great Britain take on Australia in the tie, which takes place between 18 and 20 September, with Scot Andy Murray, the world number two, leading the charge.