Ladbrokes’ employees with more than a year's experience will receive free shares in the company after the bookmaker recently announced that it had boosted profits in the first four months of 2006 by 5%.

According to the share deal, employees who work over 30 hours a week will receive shares to the value of 250 pounds, with those who are working 20 to 30 hours getting shares worth 200 pounds. Employees working under 20 hours will get 150 punds in shares.

Ladbrokes acknowledged that the “reward” is in recognition of the 'contributions staff have made and also gives them a stake in the future of the company'.