Labour peer Lord Bassam has called for local councils to get behind the Albion bid for a new community stadium.

His plea follows criticism of the project by East Sussex County Council, Lewes District Council and Falmer Parish Council.

Lord Bassam, former leader of the old Brighton Council, said: "The county and district councils obviously have not thought through their opposition to the stadium. The stunning design adjacent to a national park is perfect.

"The public transport and road and rail infrastructure is in place and simply needs to be enhanced.

"The link-up with the universities, medical school and employers and schools make for an exciting project capable of aiding the city council's regeneration programme.

"The stadium will create 650 full-time jobs and provide a sustained economic boost to Moulsecoomb, east Brighton and the city as a whole.

"Community leaders, employers and even local hoteliers have backed the scheme.

"For East Sussex councillors to accuse the city council of hypocrisy is daft. There is nothing contradictory in supporting a national park - which East Sussex don't, incidentally - and a community stadium on the edge of the urban fringe.

"Why should stadiums always be seen as something to be tucked away in the back streets? Modern stadiums are sporting theatres of design excellence."

Lord Bassam said local councils should support the club.

He said: "The economic benefit to the city and county is there for all to see.

"The councillors involved should be ashamed of their lack of vision and parochialism."