Councils have called for the Government to reduce the maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals which can see punters lose hundreds of pounds a minute.

The £100 maximum stake on the machines should be slashed, the Local Government Association (LGA) said.

Councils also want licensing laws to be updated to allow councils to take health issues associated with problem gambling and anti-social behaviour concerns into account when considering applications from betting shops.

The LGA want the £100 maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to be brought in line with other gaming machines on the high street, where the top stake is £2, or casinos where it is £5.

The issue will be debated in Parliament amid signs that MPs back curbs on FOBTs - but bookmakers insist that betting shops are the safest place to gamble and councils already have sufficient powers.

A ComRes survey of 150 MPs between February 25 and April 6 found 107 (72%) agreed or strongly agreed that there is a need for greater government regulation.