Betfair forced to evacuate

Leading betting exchange firm Betfair were out of action for about an hour today after receiving a bomb scare.

On receiving the threat at about 1pm, the company were given what they described as "20 minutes notice of an attack against a non-specified Betfair office".

The police were alerted and the decision was taken to evacuate all Betfair buildings before 1.15pm. All potentially-affected markets were suspended prior to the evacuation.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "Betfair's head office was cleared by the police at approximately 1.50pm and Betfair resumed normal service as quickly as possible.

"Bets matched before the suspension will stand."