PAUL WELLER - BOOKMAKERS SUSPEND BRIT AWARDS BETTING AFTER WELLER RUSH

BOOKMAKERS SUSPEND BRIT AWARDS BETTING AFTER WELLER RUSH

Leading bookmakers have stopped taking bets on the upcoming Brits after a flurry of betting suggested a winner's name had been leaked.

A number of £50 bets were placed on Paul Weller to win the best solo male award at several William Hill outlets in London yesterday, prompting suspicion that the insider Brits information had been released.

William Hill, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and Tote are among the bookmakers to have suspended betting on this Wednesday's music awards ceremony while Weller's odd to claim the prize have been slashed from 5/1 to 1/5.

As the bets were placed at several different William Hill outlets they are virtually untraceable.

The other nominees for the best solo male prize are Will Young, Ian Brown, James Morrison and the Streets.

The annual awards are voted for by a jury of 1,000 music industry professionals whose choices are assembled online before being verified by an official panel.

A Brit awards spokesman said of the possible leak: "Every precaution is taken to keep results under lock and key."