A gloomy Sussex gambler has staked a £5 bet at odds of 10 million-to-one that the world will end today.

It must rank as the most bizarre bet ever placed, because if he won the anonymous punter would not be around to collect his £50 million prize.

It is just one of an array of festive flutters which has sent this year's Christmas gambling soaring to record levels, said bookmakers William Hill.

Gamblers across Britain staked more than £100,000 on old favourites such as a white Christmas and the race for the Christmas Number One single.

The bookies were unusually relaxed today about the prospects of an Armageddon pay out.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said: "I'm not too worried about having to pay out.

"If the world does end, the customer said he believes that bookmakers go to heaven and we can pay out there."

He added: "What used to be known as silly bets have now become seen as mainstream bets."

William Hill have closed their book on the chances of Christmas Day snow, with odds of 4-7 for a white Christmas in Leeds, even money for Birmingham, 8-11 for Manchester, 5-2 for Glasgow, 3-1 for London and 6-1 in Bristol and Cardiff.