Andy Murray and the Ashes have cost bookmakers a cut in profits as the nation failed to take a patriotic punt.

Britain's biggest bookmaker William Hill has blamed the "wrong type of sport" for a fall of profits in July.
 
The bookmaker claimed that gamblers were glued to their flat screens and stayed at home to watch the grand slam summer of events, such as Andy Murray fighting it out at Wimbledon, rather than make the trip to betting shops.

Chief executive Ralph Topping revealed: "Good spectator sports like Wimbledon, the Ashes, and golf have kept customers wedged into their armchairs, which has caused a softening of our business in July."

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