DAY WORMS TURNED INTO A £230M HIT

THE British software company behind the video game Worms is to float on the London Stock Exchange this month.

Team17, which is estimated to be worth £230m and is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is best known for developing the cult game, pictured, in which worms do battle.

It has a back catalogue of 90 games, including award-winning hits The Escapists and the cooking simulation Overcooked. Chief executive Debbie Bestwick, who has 45pc of the shares, is in for a bumper payday, preparing to sell half when the firm floats on Aim.

Bestwick said: ‘An IPO will not only broaden the profile of the business globally but will enable Team17 to continue to capitalise on our position as a leading independent video games label for indie developers.’