Bookmaker's poster upsets senior citizens

A controversial Paddy Power poster that offended the senior citizens of Bristol is to be replaced by one showing a woman with…

A controversial Paddy Power poster that offended the senior citizens of Bristol is to be replaced by one showing a woman with betting odds on her breasts.

Her hungry-looking baby can choose between a breast marked "evens" or one that sports the odds 5-4. The original poster showed two elderly women on a pedestrian crossing with a vehicle looming in the background.

One of the women with a walking frame is quoted at "evens" while the other woman, with a shopping trolley is at 2-1.

The chairwoman of the Bristol Senior Citizen's Bureau, Ms Anne Crabtree, described the posters as a disgrace.

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Mr Paddy Power, operations executive with the company, said the nationwide poster campaign in England was designed to entertain rather than offend. "The only complaint we have had was from the British senior citizens. We wouldn't want to offend old-age pensioners. They represent a large proportion of our business."

There are six posters designed to promote the Paddy Power website. Others include "an unfortunate spotty teenager, with prices on which spot will burst first and a dog walking in the park, trying to decide whether to pee on a tree or a person's leg," said Mr Power. The poster series was devised by a London agency, BBH.

Speaking after an interview on RTE's Pat Kenny show yesterday, which also featured Mr Power, Ms Crabtree told The Irish Times: "I have been in touch with my MP and will make contact with the Bookmakers' Lobby Board. I want to see this man [Paddy Power] reprimanded."