It's a journey council bosses claim would take Brighton and Hove Albion fans just 25 minutes to walk.

Lewes District Council argues Albion's new ground should be at Sheepcote Valley because supporters could stroll there from the city centre.

But campaigners yesterday destroyed the myth behind the council's claims by marching the route themselves - in a shade under an hour.

A group of 32 Seagulls fans, including Brighton and Hove City Council leader Simon Burgess, walked from the clock tower in Brighton city centre to the Sheepcote Valley site which Lewes maintains is a better site for the new ground than Falmer.

And the Falmer For All campaigners even used their time out in the open air to raise money for Lewes Area Play Council, a charity providing recreational facilities for children in the Lewes district.

Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All Campaign, said: "It was relatively hard work and you couldn't imagine doing the walk there and back to see a game of football. You could spend two hours walking there and back and we were all pretty fit people.

"It is ridiculous to think about doing that walk in the winter when there is a night game. People would be making it back to Brighton train station at 11pm.

"On a more positive note Lewes Area Play Council will benefit significantly from the money we raised, which we are still counting."

Albion fan Lynn Nicholls, 58, from Patcham, said: "Sheepcote Valley is not an alternative to Falmer and we are here today to show that it takes longer than 25 minutes to walk there."

Campaigners had invited Lewes councillors Ann De Vecchi, Marina Pepper, David Neighbour and Neil Commin, chief executive John Crawford and Lewes MP Norman Baker to join the walk.

Mr Samrah said he was disappointed that none took up the offer.

Councillor Burgess said: "I feel very passionate that Falmer is the right place for the football stadium. Sheepcote Valley is a joke of a suggestion and it is important to take a look at the spurious arguments coming from Lewes District Council."

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly is reconsidering the club's application to build the 22,000-seat stadium and 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.

A debate over the stadium is to be held at the University of Sussex on April 25.

The open debate will be held at the university at the Falmer Common Room, Falmer House, University of Sussex, at 5pm.

All are welcome and anyone who would like to attend or speak should email education@ussu.sussex.ac.uk Leave your messages urging Ruth Kelly to give Falmer the go-ahead below.