EURO 2008 INFO

Ladbrokes have estimated a record £350 million could be staked in the UK and Ireland on this month's Euro 2008 football tournament, despite the failure of any of the home nations to qualify.

The bookmaker said growth in online betting and the popularity of football wagers meant the UK and Ireland betting industry stood to generate 40% more than it did from the last tournament in 2004.

Company spokesman Ciaran O'Brien said: "No home team qualification means we won't have the patriotic betting we would normally see, but the growth of online betting, betting on football and the increasingly international reach of bookmakers mean it will still be a record Euro 2008 for the industry in terms of turnover."