BETTING group William Hill has revealed plans to close around 700 betting shops across the UK, with 4,500 jobs at risk.

The company has several shops in Somerset including in:

*Station Road and East Reach, in Taunton;

*Fore Street, Wellington;

*High Street and St John Street, Bridgwater;

*Market Street, Highbridge;

*Victoria Street, in Burnham-on-Sea;

*and Fore Street, Chard.

A spokesman for William Hill said of its store closure plans: "This follows the Government's decision to reduce the maximum stake on B2 gaming products to £2 on 1 April 2019.

"Since then the company has seen a significant fall in gaming machine revenues, in line with the guidance given when the Government's decision was announced in May 2018."

It plans to begin shutting shops by the end of the year.