BOOKIES have been taking bets on who will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury - with York's Dr John Sentamu the firm favourite.

Thousands of pounds have been staked on Dr Sentamu stepping up to the Church of England's top job, if and when Rowan Williams steps down.

There has been speculation about Dr Williams' future since his recent controversial remarks on the possibility introduction of sharia law in Britain. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has now opened a book on who his eventual replacement will be, and the Archbishop of York, pictured, is the front runner, at 2/1.

A spokesman for the firm said £6,000 to £8,000 had been waged so far, with about 60 per cent of bets backing the York man.

Spokesman Darren Haines said: "It's captured the imagination, certainly on the back of Dr Williams' infamous headlines with sharia law. It has made him a very public figure of quite great awareness at the moment, which always adds to the interest."

He said Dr Sentamu has seen "by far the most money", adding: "He has been favourite for a little while and has seen the majority of the betting."

Paddy Power is also running a book on who will be the next Pope, but Mr Haines said interest in either book would only really take off when one of the posts became vacant.

Others in the running to become next Archbishop of Canterbury, according to Paddy Power, include the Bishop of London the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, at 3/1, and the Bishop of Portsmouth, Dr Kenneth Stevenson, at 5/1.

The Press made attempts to contact a spokesman for the Archbishop of York, but was unsuccessful.