THREE England footballers have spent Pounds 2 million between them on a yearlong betting spree, it was reported today.

John Terry, Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker bet thousands of pounds a day on horse and dog races.

The three Chelsea stars spend their time at a betting shop in Cobham, Surrey, with teammate Eidur Gudjohnsen. This week Terry and Bridge made bets of Pounds 13,000 in three hours, according to The Sun.

It is estimated that the four players risk Pounds 40,000 a week between them. Terry, 23, and Bridge, 24, are often seen in the Coral betting shop clutching rolls of Pounds 50 notes.

Staff offered them credit facilities but they said they preferred the "buzz" from cash although use cards when that runs out.

A fellow regular at the branch said: "No one really notices when the Chelsea boys come in any more because they are here so often.

"They always get excited when they have a big win and don't seem to mind losing too much. On balance, they must be losing or the bookies would have gone out of business."

Terry, Bridge and Parker, 24, live in Oxshott, three miles from Cobham - where Chelsea's new training ground will be built. Gudjohnsen, 24, is a self-confessed gambling addict who told last year of losing Pounds 400,000 on roulette and blackjack.

Coral said: "It is not our policy to comment on betting patterns of our clients."

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