Error using Eval in asp.net

[vuyiswamb]

Good Day all

i have the following

   <%# clsFlow.CleanBondNumber(Eval("ATB_NUMBER"))%>

and the Function CleanBondNumber is defined like this

Public Shared Function CleanBondNumber(ByVal val As Object) As String


        Dim Final_bond_acc_no As String = String.Empty

        If (val.ToString().Contains("Offer")) Then

            'Get rid of the Offer string 
            Dim Finalstring As String

            Finalstring = val.ToString.Substring(6)

            If (Finalstring.Contains(" ")) Then

                'Get the Position of the Space
                Dim SpacePost As Integer
                SpacePost = Finalstring.IndexOf(" ")

                Final_bond_acc_no = Finalstring.Substring(0, SpacePost - 1)

                Return Final_bond_acc_no

            Else
                Return val.ToString()
            End If

        Else

            If (val.Contains(" ")) Then

                'Get the Position of the Space
                Dim SpacePost As Integer
                SpacePost = val.IndexOf(" ")

                Final_bond_acc_no = val.Substring(0, SpacePost - 1)
                Return Final_bond_acc_no
            Else
                Return val.ToString()
            End If
        End If

    End Function

i stepped through the code and after it returns something i cant bind the Data, i get an Exception

	 <%# clsFlow.CleanBondNumber(Eval("ATB_NUMBER"))%>	'=' expected.

Thanks