The chief executive of a betting shop association should stroll through Haringey to see how bookmakers target deprived areas, according to a councillor.

Councillor Nilgun Canver (Lab, St Ann’s) dismissed comments made last week by Dirk Vennix, who leads the Association of British Bookmakers.

Mr Vennix told the Haringey Independent there is “no evidence whatsoever” that betting shops target deprived communities.

However, cllr Canver firmly believes that betting shops grow in clusters around poorer parts of the borough.

She said: “I personally invite the chief exec of the Association of British Bookmakers to join me for a few hours walking around some of our high streets looking at how betting shops are clustered.

“We’ll do a quick survey and he can see for himself how high street bookmakers target the least well off areas here in Haringey.

“As I’ve said before, the Government needs to change legislation to give communities the power to use planning and licensing laws to prevent the further spread of betting shops if that’s what they want to do.”

The comments come after a member of staff from the betting shop chain, William Hill, invited cllr Canver and Tottenham MP David Lammy (Lab) for a charity punt in the Grand National this Saturday.

A William Hill shop reopened in Tottenham High Road nearly three weeks ago following its destruction in the riots, bringing the total of bookies in Haringey up to 65.

The politicians both politely declined the offer and instead suggested the company should make a donation to charity.

Mr Lammy said the shop should give some cash to one of the many businesses in the High Road which remain shut after damage caused in the August riots.