Northern betting rings the big draw for Hooper in £2m William Hill deal

Getting a foothold at some of Britain's most popular northern venues was the main reason John Hooper took advantage of William Hill's decision to leave racecourse betting rings.

Hooper, who trades under the Sid Hooper banner, has acquired 82 pitches from the bookmaking giant, who will now focus their efforts on their 41 on-site betting shops.

The deal is thought to be worth around £2 million, although Hooper, a third-generation layer, would not be drawn on the figure.