Amber Rudd is the bookies' General Election favourite

Conservative hopeful Amber Rudd seems to be the bookies' favourites, with both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power giving her odds of 1/5 on. This means a 10 bet would net a punter just 2 if the Tory wins.

However, she refused to get carried away, saying: "Perhaps I should say that it's a bit of a handicap being saddled as the bookies' favourite '“ but my policies have always been rather better than my jokes.

"Seriously, I think the result will be very close and I urge people not to take too much notice of what the bookies say and make sure that they actually vote for the person they want to win."

After hearing the best odds on a Lib Dem win locally was 100v1 - the same as The English Democrats, UKIP and the British National Party - Nick Perry said he "was worth having a flutter on".

Labour candidate Michael Foster, who has been MP since 1997, is available at a best price of 7/2, meaning a 10 bet would return 35 if he retains his seat - still someway back on the 1,000 pot awaiting anyone who successfully backs the Lib Dems.

The odds are far more competitive than those on offer in neighbouring Bexhill, where a 10 bet on Greg Barker would return just 2p in winnings.