Albion bosses have cancelled a pre-season charity run because the site they were going to use is occupied by travellers.

The event, involving fans and players, was to raise money for the club's Centre of Excellence.

But the presence of travellers on the Waterhall Valley playing fields off Waterhall Road, Brighton, has stopped this from going ahead.

Kevin Keehan, commercial manager for the Seagulls, said: "We have put in a lot of effort to organise the fun run but we couldn't guarantee the travellers would be gone in time for the event on Sunday.

"We had to make a decision otherwise we would have had to pay for stewarding and then be put in the position of possibly cancelling at the last minute.

"We are very disappointed because this is the first time we've ever organised anything like this where fans are given the chance to run with footballers."

Paul Rogers, sales manager for Albion and former captain, said: "We have been ringing around all the fans to tell them we have cancelled and everyone has been very understanding."

More than 100 fans had already registered for the run. Entry required a minimum of £50 sponsorship for each person.

Tim Carder, chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion Supporters Club, was one of the fans looking forward to the run.

He said: "This run was to raise money for the Centre of Excellence, which represents the future of the club.

"My philosophy is to let people live as they want to live as long as it doesn't inconvenience others. I have nothing against travellers but to have events called off because of where they have decided to set up camp is extremely annoying."

Yesterday there were four small mounds of rubbish in one corner of the site, which was otherwise spotless. About 15 caravans were on the playing fields. None of the travellers was willing to speak to The Argus.

Brighton and Hove City Council is working with Sussex Police to move the travellers on.

The council could not immediately move them from Waterhall due to a health and welfare issue concerning one of the travellers.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "It's a shame the Albion chose to cancel the event.

"Recently travellers parked on a cricket pitch at Braypool and the council's traveller liaison team asked the travellers to keep to one end of the field, which they did."

Albion plans to re-arrange the fun run for next season.