Plaice your bets now - bookies William Hill are to take bets on goldfish racing on the internet.

Six fish of different colours will compete in each race. They will line up at one end of a tank, behind a barrier to prevent flying starts, and then swim around the tank until one slips under a bridge at the bottom and becomes the winner.

William Hill hopes to have the first of its fish stable under starter's orders by April 7, Grand National day. A spokesman, Graham Sharpe, said: "It's not a joke. All you need is a spacious tank, a few fish and a few cameras and you're away.

"We will be using fish like the chocolate oranda with red pom-poms, the black and white lion head and the brown telescope eye. We don't want to be accused of cruelty by painting numbers on them.

"The only danger is that it might take them hours to complete the race. We will experiment with different-sized tanks and different-coloured bridges, and we will be taking advice from relevant goldfish experts.

"The goldfish won't realise there are lots of people watching them, so it won't be stressful for them."

In the first race the contestants will all start with the same odds, 5-1; later a form guide and differing odds will be established. But goldfish have notoriously short memories, which could throw the form book out of the window.

And victorious fish may get to bask in their glory in a luxury "winner's bowl".

Press Association