A bookmaker was yesterday forced to slash the odds on independent candidate Siobhan Benita winning the London Mayoral election.

Paddy Power has cut the her price from 500/1 to 66/1 after a surge in backers for the former civil servant, with one bold gambler standing to win £10,000 on a £20 stake.

Current mayor Boris Johnson remains the strong favourite at 2/7, his shortest price to date, to win his second term, while Labour’s Ken Livingstone is considered his strongest rival at 5/2.

Elsewhere, Brian Paddick, who’s representing the Liberal Democrats, has fallen behind Siobhan Benita in the betting and is now available at 100/1.

Paddy Power said: “We’re usually happy to let punters nibble away at low key candidates’ long odds but after being stung for £25,000 by George Galloway’s win in Bradford West we are being a little bit more wary this time.”

London Mayoral election odds

2/7 Boris Johnson (Conservative)
5/2 Ken Livingstone (Labour)
66/1 Siobhan Benita (Independent)
100/1 Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrat)
250/1 Lawrence Webb (UKIP)
300/1 Jenny Jones (Green)
500/1 Carlos Cortiglia (BNP)

All prices subject to fluctuation. For the latest odds visit paddypowerplc.com