A village rail station should be able to cope with extra passengers even if a community stadium is built nearby.

Falmer station will be the focus for thousands of fans if the go-ahead is given to the stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion at Village Way North.

Brighton and Hove City Council Tory opposition leader Brian Oxley said yesterday in The Argus he had been told by rail bosses either a new station would be needed or major development to accommodate all the fans.

But Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: "We have quite clear correspondence from Connex and confirmed by Govia - the parent company of train operator South Central - that the train service can cope with the number of supporters expected to travel by rail with no alterations to the station."

A Govia spokesman told him: "I can confirm we would be able to expect to be able to honour the indication of capacity through Falmer provided to you by Connex last year and those figures can be used for planning purposes."

Coun Oxley said he was happy to accept what the club was saying about rail capacity at Falmer.

A meeting is to be held between Tories and the Albion next month before the planning application is considered.