METAL fans from far and wide queued outside Oxford’s O2 Academy yesterday to see their hero Ozzy Osbourne.

Fans queued from 5am for last night’s intimate gig, and one couple even travelled from Spain to see the former Black Sabbath star.

Mayte Sanchez, 33, and Antonio Ramos, 37, said they had to travel to Oxford because Ozzy has only played in Spain once in the last 25 years.

The couple, from Cadiz in southern Spain, said they were planning to spend a week in London after the gig and, including flights and hotels, they expected to spend £1,500.

Mr Ramos said: “Ozzy is my God. He is my favourite singer and I would travel anywhere to see him. When he plays in Hell, I will be there.”

Kyle Quinell, 18, from Oxford, started queueing at 5am for a place at the front.

He said: “I had to queue up early. It's Ozzy! I was going to camp overnight, but no one would stay with me.”

Jason Kasioptas, 23, from Swindon, was so desperate to see the sold-out gig he bought his ticket on ebay.

He said: “I paid £60 for a ticket, but even if it was £90 I would pay.

“Tonight is a dream come true. I’ve been waiting 15 years to see him. When I get inside I’m going to let my hair down and go crazy.”

Mark Brooklyn, 43, had been queueing since 9am and is a life-long fan of Ozzy. He said: “I first saw him in 1983 and I have seen him half a dozen times since then, but this gig is going to be special because it’s in such a small venue.”

The fan, from Nottingham, said he loves watching Ozzy because of the atmosphere.

“It’s an adrenalin rush and it feeds everyone,” he said. “You don’t need drugs when you have rock and roll.”

The show was Ozzy’s first in the UK for three years and it followed the release in June of his 10th studio album, Scream.