Election stakes are high in St Albans and gamblers are aiming to cash in – with thousands of pounds worth of bets taken.

Manifestos are being scrutinised and hustings have been causing a stir as time begins to run out for the electorate to make that important decision.

Betting company Spreadex, based in Upper Marlborough Road, has taken thousands of pounds worth of bets from UK investors speculating on the eventual outcome on May 7.

The company predicts that the Conservatives will get between 282 and 287 seats, Labour between 268 and 273, the Scottish National Party 45 to 48, the Liberal Democrats 23 to 26 and UKIP 3 to 5.

Spreadex is also offering 25-10 spread betting prices on individual constituency outcomes, based on 25 points awarded to the winning constituency candidate and 10 points to the runner-up.

The St Albans seat has Anne Main the strong favourite to retain her seat for the Conservatives with a spread of 23 – 24.5 ahead of the Liberal Democrats’ Sandy Walkington on a spread of 8.5 – 10. Kerry Pollard for Labour and UKIP’s Chris Wright are not fancied with spreads of 1 – 2.5 and 0.5 – 1.5 respectively.