Lottery operator Camelot is planning to close a number of regional centres and cut 80 jobs to save costs.

About 30 jobs will go from its head office in Watford, Hertfordshire, the company announced on Monday.

Branches in Sunderland, Leeds, Birmingham, Exeter, Reigate and London are set to shut, and some jobs at a call centre in Merseyside are also under threat.

The move comes after sales dropped by 5% in the first half of this year.

Relaunch confusion

Camelot chief executive Dianne Thompson said costs were being cut to allow the lottery to be run "in the most efficient way".

The company said in a statement that consultations with the staff affected - about 8% of its 980-strong workforce - will begin immediately.

It also said it had been disappointed by the "confusion" surrounding the relaunch of the lottery in May, which included renaming the main game as Lotto.

Camelot said the move had been an 18-month programme, and it hoped the problems would be resolved in the coming months.