Nine lords have leapt to the defence of Brighton and Hove Albion's plans for a community stadium at Falmer.

The peers have written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott asking him to approve the controversial stadium after a public inquiry which ended last month.

They have been backed by Government whip Lord Bassam of Brighton, who is a staunch Albion fan.

He said: "I am delighted peers from across Sussex have recognised the importance of backing the Albion's case for Falmer and written such a supportive letter.

"I have no doubt the Secretary of State will give their concerns fair consideration along with those from our local MPs.

"The important message is just how significant the beneficial impact will be to the wider Sussex economy in terms of economic regeneration and new employment opportunities.

"The local economy is developing dramatically and the stadium when it is developed will be another part of the local economic miracle which has transformed Brighton and Hove over the past ten years."

The peers are:

Lord Desai, economics professor at the London School of Economics, who lives in Hastings
Lord Carter, a former Government chief whip, who was born in Hove and watched the Albion in the years after the Second World War
Lord Sawyer, who lives in Hove and is a former general secretary of the Labour Party
Baroness Gould, former director of organisation for the Labour Party and an ex-whip in the Lords
Lord Brooke, former Civil Service trades union leader who lives in Kemp Town
Lord MacDonald, TV presenter and former minister who lives in Brighton
Lord Brett, former trades union leader who lives near Hastings
Lord Dholakia, president of the Liberal Democrats and a former Brighton councillor, who lives near Pulborough
Lord Faulkner, a former non-executive director who assisted the club in easing out the old board when Bill Archer owned the club.

They said: "As members of the House of Lords with strong connections in the area, we share the MPs' view this is an application with broad local support and with very clear importance to the future development of Sussex.

"We agree this application offers a superb and unique opportunity to enhance the assets of the local area and is undoubtedly needed - not just for football but also for the wider economic, cultural and leisure benefits that will result.

"A large community stadium would be a real boost to the economy in Sussex and would continue to be a focus for regeneration.

"The hotel and restaurant business is a key sector in Sussex and therefore it is important these jobs are supported by other leisure activities.

"This stadium proposal would create a superb new leisure facility, without comparison in the region, able to host cultural events and attract new visitors."

The peers said the application was not just about football, adding: "We believe it is crucial to the future development of the economy and the culture and leisure of this area."