A last-ditch bid to derail a council's legal challenge against the Falmer stadium planning permission has failed.

Albion fan Ed Bassford, of Firle, asked Lewes District Council to review its decision to launch a High Court judicial review against the planning consent granted by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in October.

The council's scrutiny committee met to discuss the issue yesterday but decided there were no grounds for the decision, made by the cabinet in November, to be overturned.

The committee decided the cabinet had followed correct procedures in making its decision and was within its rights to pursue the judicial review.

It was also decided that the cabinet was entitled to exclude the press and public when receiving the legal advice which informed its decision.

Mr Bassford said most local residents are opposed to the council's action in the High Court.