Brighton and Hove will never be a major British city unless Falmer stadium is built, the public inquiry into the scheme heard today.

Daily Telegraph chief sports writer Paul Hayward, said he could think of no other conurbation that needed a modern sports arena so badly.

He told the inquiry that his home town would never be a major British city unless it had a ground to compare with those in Huddersfield, Leicester and Middlesbrough.

He said it was an "affront" to children growing up in Sussex that the county did not have a modern stadium.

Mr Hayward said the stadium would help tackle many of the city's social and economic problems.

He said: "The city has a poor record of sport and recreation. This is detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the city's residents. The Falmer stadium will, I believe, help correct this abnormality."

He said Brighton and Hove Albion, who want to build the 22,000-seat ground at Village Way North, could not survive as anything but a "minor South coast team" without it.

Mr Hayward said: "It would be calamitous socially and politically for the city to head into the new century mourning this lost opportunity and join the ranks of the also-rans."

Earlier, the inquiry heard that disabled football fans needed a new stadium because of poor facilities at Withdean.

Eleanor Ellison, of Brighton and Hove Albion Disabled Supporters' Club, said many fans had difficulty attending games at the temporary ground.

She said: "Falmer will give some disabled fans the opportunity to see games for the first time since Goldstone days."

But farmer Eric Huxham said the stadium would block views from the village, be visible from surrounding downland and would affect everybody who lived in Falmer.

The inquiry, which opened in February, will close this week after supporters and objectors make their closing submissions.

Planning inspector John Collyer will reopen the hearing for two weeks in the autumn to discuss the linked coach park and road works.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is not expected to make a final decision until at least the end of the year.