COCKERMOUTH's Ben Stokes is the early favourite among the bookies to claim the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Award. 

Online Betting Guide (OLBG) has tipped the England Test Cricket captain Ben Stokes to scoop the award after the up-turn in the side's fortunes.

Stokes leads the odds, at 11/2 with Paddy Power to claim the BBC's top prize for athletes ahead of England's summer Ashes series. 

Paddy Power also gives the Cockermouth native a 15.4 per cent probability to lift the award.

This comes four years after the England captain claimed the Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2019.

A year that included England's dramatic super-over triumph in the ICC Cricket World Cup at Lord's and Stokes' famous 135-not-out batting performance at Headingley against Australia in the Ashes. 

Stokes tops the five-man list that also includes former England cricket captain Joe Root, boxer Tyson Fury and Mercedes Formula One teammate's Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. 

Paddy Power and OLBG have the seven-time Formula One champion Hamilton as the second favourite to claim the award at 7/1 and 12.5 per cent, with the English racer looking to claim his third SPOTY award.

Former England captain Joe Root is named the third favourite to be named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year at 15/2 and 11.8 per cent and George Russell comes in at 9/1 and 10 per cent.

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury rounds up the five-man list, at 10/1 and 9.1 per cent. 

Jake Ashton, sports betting expert at OLBG said: "Ben Stokes is now the outright favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of a massive year for Cricket with the Ashes and World Cup on the way."