THE polls opened today at 7am with eager candidates all believing they are in with a shout.

But one interested party which tends to get its sums right is the betting industry, who are offering odds on every constituency.

They are giving odds on the favourites in four East Lancashire seats with two of the seats closer betting propositions.

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In Blackburn where Kate Hollern is bidding to succeed Jack Straw she is best priced 1/25 to win with Ladbrokes, with Conservative candidate Bob Eastwood a 33/1 second favourite with Betfair.

Ribble Valley has another strong favourite with Tory incumbent Nigel Evans priced at 1/33 with William Hill, UKIP candidate Shirley Parkinson is second in the market at 20/1 with the same company.

Another leading fancy in the betting shops is Hyndburn’s Labour MP Graham Jones, he is best priced 1/25 with a host of gambling firms while Tory challenger Kevin Horkin is second in the betting, Betfred offering a price of 12/1.

In Burnley, defending Liberal Democrat MP Gordon Birtwistle is second favourite, Bet365 having him priced at 13/2. Former council leader, Labour’s Julie Cooper is favourite to take the seat, Betfair offering odds of 1/6.

The betting race is closer in Rossendale and Darwen with present Conservative MP Jake Berry is priced at 8/13 by Coral. Challenger Will Straw is close behind in the market, Ladbrokes quoting odds of 6/4.

In Pendle, Conservative MP Andrew Stephenson, who won in 2010 is priced at 8/11 with Coral, Labour’s Azhar Ali is 13/8 with Bet 365.