David Lepper has told ministers Brighton and Hove Albion's programme of work in the community is the best in the country.

The Brighton Pavilion MP's comments came as he urged the Government to give Albion the go-ahead for a stadium at Falmer.

Albion were celebrating last week after beating 71 other clubs to be named Community Club of the Year at the Football League Awards.

Campaigners argued it was further proof of the urgent need for a stadium at Falmer so the club could continue and expand its community work.

Chairman Dick Knight said the award made a mockery of Lewes District Council's claims to the Government that there was "little scope ... for any meaningful use of the stadium for community purposes".

Mr Lepper highlighted the importance of the stadium at a meeting in the Commons.

He was speaking at a meeting of the All Party Group on Foyers, which focused on a project run by the Football Foundation, the BBC and the Foyer Federation to help youngsters with housing problems to develop sports journalism skills.

At the meeting, Sports Minister Richard Caborn said sport had the potential to change lives for the better, giving troubled youngsters the chance to develop independence and selfrespect.

Mr Lepper said: "I wanted to let Mr Caborn know that Albion has the country's best community programme and could do even more for youngsters and adults if it had a new stadium at Falmer as its base.

"Although the decision on Falmer will be made on planning grounds I want to take every opportunity to let members of the Government know just how vital the stadium at Falmer is."

Albion's work in the community ranges from soccer schools for youngsters to writing and numeracy workshops and football coaching courses for adults.

After receiving the award, Mr Knight said it exposed Lewes District Council's "blinkered and selfish opposition".

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is reconsidering the application to build the 22,000-seat stadium, will make a decision on or before July 9.

The original decision to grant permission, made by John Prescott in 2005, was quashed in the High Court after it was revealed he had made a mistake in the wording of the document.

After initially refusing to comment, a Lewes District Council spokeswoman said: "We congratulate the club and applaud its community work. However this has got nothing to do with the application for a football stadium at Falmer.

"The fact the club has won this award shows it to be operating its community activities quite successfully from its current stadium at Withdean. We recognise a move to a bigger stadium would allow it to expand its programme but the stadium doesn't have to be at Falmer."

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