A council was accused today of "flogging off the family silver" after it raked in more than £10 million from selling school playing fields.

New figures for Tory-run West Sussex County Council were also used to put Tony Blair on the spot during Prime Minister's Question Time.

Labour pledged to halt the sale of playing fields when it came to power in 1997.

But West Sussex raised £10,845 million from sales including £7.9 million in 1999 and almost £3 million in 2000.

In Brighton and Hove and East Sussex, no sales have been completed since 1998.

The figures were seized on by Tory shadow sports minister John Greenway who said £140 million worth of playing fields had been sold nationally since 1998, mostly to developers.

He said: "The figures show that, far from reducing, the number of sales is increasing and accelerating."

Mr Blair said protecting playing fields "does, of course, remain our policy". He said: "The figures under the Conservative years of some 1,400 playing fields sold off are now down to three a month under this Government."

West Sussex Liberal Democrat leader Nick Rodgers said he was "horrified" when he heard the Commons exchange.

He said: "I am glad this has been highlighted because this is a particular problem in West Sussex, where the county council makes all sorts of noises about excellence in education yet continues to sell off playing fields.

"If the family silver is clean and available, the council will flog it off and it is not going to be helpful to the next generation of schoolchildren."

Coun Rodgers, from Worthing, said the council was likely to maintain that sales were only approved to raise money for new sports halls and buildings.

But he said: "If you are serious about improving facilities in schools then playing fields are just as important as classrooms."

Labour group leader George O'Neill said his members kept a close watch on playing field sales and how much of the proceeds were spent on school improvements. He said: "Most schools are in the middle of urban areas where open space is hard to come by."

The sale of playing fields was also attacked by Richard Symonds who campaigned against the West Sussex County Council decision to axe hot school meals.

He said: "It seems any council which applies to central government to sell playing fields is given the nod and it is a disgrace."

West Sussex Cabinet member for resources Colin Waller said every penny raised from school land sales had been spent on new classrooms or sports facilities.

He said: "I also have to make it clear that you have to have the Education Secretary's permission to dispose of land and you will only get that permission if you can demonstrate the proceeds will be put back into education in terms of new classrooms and sports facilities."

Coun Waller said the council also had to show only surplus playing fields were being sold and that enough land would still remain for pupils in years to come.

Headmaster Les Savins, whose Bognor Community College agreed to give up an acre of land two years ago for a housing scheme, said the money had given the school a new all-weather sports pitch and helped meet the cost of a multi-million pound sports hall.