An unlucky couple have lost a wager that would have seen bookmakers pay out £2,500.

Will, 34, and Alex Sturgeon, 33, were in the middle of bidding for tickets for 32 London Olympic events when Mrs Sturgeon went in to labour.

When they returned from Kingston Hospital with baby Saskia Rose, they had second thoughts about submitting the application, as they calculated how many nappies the £2,500 would buy.

So Mr Sturgeon struck a once-in-a-lifetime wager with William Hill, with odds of 250-1.

A £10 stake would have seen them winning £2,500 to cover the cost of Olympic tickets, if they were successful with every application.

Surbiton resident Mr Sturgeon said: “I would love to say ‘yes, we got them all’ and William Hill have paid up, but we actually just got £400 worth, out of the £2,500 applied for.

“Based on a lot of feedback I’ve heard from friends and in the media though, we’re counting ourselves lucky as I know some people have got nothing.

“I always knew it was a real long-shot - the £10 bet with William Hill was just a bit of added fun. I’ll get it back off them at the Derby on Saturday, maybe.”

He said they will take baby Saskia to the events if under twos go free, otherwise she will be stuck with granny for the day.

He said: “She won’t remember it, but I’d like her to be able to say she was there for what it’s worth.”

More than a million people applied for the 40,000 public seats available, which ranged in price from £50 to £725.