The advent of on-line gambling has made it possible to place a wager instantly on the most obscure aspect of a sporting fixture but 25 years ago Furness people still liked to risk a few pounds on the almost impossible.

The Mail, on Friday, March 18 in 1994, noted: "The bewildered bookies never cease to be amazed by the vivid imaginations of their clients."

Ken Walker, manager of Ladbrokes in Cavendish Street, Barrow, said: "Three years ago we had a run on bets that Elvis would appear somewhere."

He responded with odds of 100-1, as long as The King was spotted within five years.

Other bets taken in Furness included Mr Blobby becoming Prime Minister and whether Coronation Street's Percy Sugden would marry Emily Bishop.

One punter had asked for odds — and was refused — on John Major being assassinated and another wanted to bet on Los Angeles suffering an earthquake on April 10.