A gig by heavy metal band Iron Maiden has ended in tears in Colombia after ticketless fans desperate to hear their heroes began to riot.

Over 100 people were arrested on Saturday as clashes broke out in the Colombian capital city Bogota, several hours before the band was due to play.

Police fired tear gas canisters at those who tried to enter the concert grounds without purchasing tickets.

Colombian media reported one police officer was hit when fans started throwing rocks.

Police officer Rolando Arturo Girata spoke from his hospital bed, saying he had been transferred there after being struck in the face.

Police Use Teargas On Ticketless Fans

Some 25,000 people attended the concert as clashes continued outside the venue, at Simon Bolivar Park.

Rodolfo Palomino, Chief of Colombia's Metropolitan police, said 44 people participating in the riot remained in custody.

They were due to be charged with destruction of public property.

Some local residents complained as windows and street signs were damaged during the scuffles between fans and police.

After the clashes, local authorities said they would debate whether Bogota should host another heavy metal concert in the future.

Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood said only a minority of fans were involved and called on authorities not to react by banning metal acts.

He told Sky News Online:"We abhor the inane behaviour of a small minority of people outside.

"They do Iron Maiden, metal and the real Colombian fans a disservice and sadly just provide a reason for the military to feel they need to be there.

"Our fans are there for the MUSIC. We definitely intend to return to Colombia and trust the authorities will not be swayed to banning Maiden and metal because of a minority of troublemakers spoiling it for the huge majority of true Iron Maiden fans."

He said Maiden had played two recent shows at the Simon Bolivar Park to about 75,000 fans without incident, and that Saturday's disturbance had been caused by "a lot of kids" trying to get in.