LOSSES at Gala Coral, which is in the process of a £2.2 billion merger with Ladbrokes, have widened in the third quarter.

The firm said that despite a 10 per cent increase in revenue to £264 million, losses grew from £20.5m to £25.6 million after booking £26m of exceptional costs.

Last month the Competition and Markets Authority ordered Gala and Ladbrokes to offload 350 to 400 high street stores as a condition of the deal.