A Bradford firm of bookmakers is to pay out early after Pop Idol Gareth Gates showed he was a clear winner in the polls.

John Woods, which has 12 shops around the Bradford area, today decided there was no beating the teenage sensation.

Andy Taylor, betting operations manager, announced the decision to the Telegraph & Argus and said the company would be paying out a four figure sum on the East Bowling singer.

"Basically he is home and dry, he is already going to win the competition so we are paying out early.

"All of the polls which have come out put him as clear favourite and our contacts have passed on the message that he will be first past the post."

The bookmaker has had a flood of support for Gareth who is expected to seal his grip on the competition with a rendition of Mack the Knife in tonight's show.

"This happens in football when say, Manchester United are points ahead at the top of the table in March and the bookies pay out early.

"We know he is going to win and we cannot see why we should stop the customers by waiting four weeks."

Gareth was 5-4 when the betting opened but went out to 7-4 after the first few shows when his performance was slated by the panel.

However the teenager now has one hand on the title.

Mr Taylor said: "We might reopen our books on it but basically he would have to fall off the stage for that to happen."