British bookmakers say they may ban betting on next year's glitzy Brit awards, after suspicious wagers for Paul Weller to win this year's best British male prize were made.

Leading high street bookies William Hill suspended Brits betting when a flurry of big bets came in before last week's ceremony – all for Weller. They were placed during a two-hour period on 12 February, many made by men at shops in Guildford, Surrey.

The bookmakers say they lost some £20,000 after the singer, originally a 5/1 long shot, was revealed as the winner.

"A string of big bets all in one area by similar description people – that's big alarm bells time," said Rupert Adams, a William Hill spokesman. Staff became wary, he said, after one man placed a £250 wager. "That's quite a lot of money for a fun bet where we would expect the average stake to be £5 to £15."

Bookmaker Coral claims it lost £10,000 on this year's Brit awards and stopped accepting wagers on Paul Weller after a number of suspicious bets. "Clearly somebody knew something," a spokesman told BBC News.

Weller was not present at Wednesday night's awards ceremony. He accepted the prize in a pre-recorded acceptance speech.

Coral said it will be "more vigilant next year" and probably close Brits betting earlier. William Hill are going a step further and considering banning these wagers altogether. The awards selection committee system offers "too many opportunities" for leaks, Adams said.

If William Hill doesn't suspend Brit awards wagers then it will, at best, close betting a fortnight before the ceremony, before the committees have met.

In a short statement, a spokesman for the Brit awards called the bookmakers' ban "their prerogative".

The other nominees for the best solo male prize are Will Young, Ian Brown, James Morrison and the Streets.
 
The annual awards are voted for by a jury of 1,000 music industry professionals whose choices are assembled online before being verified by an official panel.
 
A Brit awards spokesman said of the possible leak: "Every precaution is taken to keep results under lock and key."

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