General election: First set of odds released with Tory win held at 2 to 9

Bookmakers have Labour down at a distant 14/1 to secure a majority

People pass a polling station sign in Brixton in 2015 (EPA)

Bookmakers have released their first set of odds ahead of the snap general election which is to be held in June.

A Conservative majority is the favourite outcome with odds of 2/9 and the next most likely result being no overall majority, coming in at 4/1, according to William Hill.

Labour appear to have a difficult task ahead of them and the bookmaker has them down at a distant 14/1 to secure a majority.

Ladbrokes meanwhile, offered odds 12/1 on the main opposition party securing a majority, but confident the Conservatives would secure it, they offered just 1/5.

Paddy Power meanwhile offered 1/7 on a Conservative majority, 5/1 on no overall majority and 14/1 on a Labour win.

News of the snap election came when Theresa May made a surprise announcement on the steps of Downing Street.

After months of assertions that she would not call an election, Ms May threw the gauntlet down to other party leaders to back her proposal.

"We need a general election and we need one now," Ms May said. "I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet, where we agreed that the Government should call a general election, to be held on 8 June."

Leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, welcomed the call and said that Labour would offer “an effective alternative to a government that has failed to rebuild the economy".

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to give the British people the chance to vote for a government that will put the interests of the majority first," Mr Corbyn said.

Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who are 25/1 outsiders to win the election, said the election provided a “chance to change the direction of the country”.

"If you want to avoid a disastrous Hard Brexit. If you want to keep Britain in the Single Market. If you want a Britain that is open, tolerant and united, this is your chance,” he said in a statement.