One of the chief opponents of Brighton and Hove Albion's proposed new stadium does not have the public's support, an MP has claimed.

Hove MP Ivor Caplin said Lewes District Council was spending a considerable amount of public money opposing the Falmer scheme but had not tested public opinion first.

He said evidence suggested support in Lewes for building the stadium at Village Way North was at similar levels to Brighton and Hove.

He said 68 per cent of Brighton and Hove voters had backed the Falmer site in the 1999 referendum, while more than 60,000 people, many from Lewes district, had signed a petition supporting the scheme.

Mr Caplin said: "This calls into question whether Lewes District Council has support from its own residents for its continued opposition to the application."

In a written submission to the public inquiry into the scheme at Hove Town Hall, Mr Caplin said there was no suitable alternative to building at Falmer.

He said the Hove Greyhound Stadium and Brighton station were unavailable, Shoreham Harbour needed infrastructure work that could take ten years, and Waterhall was north of the bypass.

He said: "No other site apart from Village Way has been identified or suggested as being available for the construction of a community stadium at the present time by any of the objectors."

He said the stadium would be built in an "environmentally-sensitive" way and the club's proposed parking and transport arrangements would make travel to and from it sustainable.

The Village Way North site was outside the boundaries of the proposed South Downs national park and had long been earmarked for development.

Mr Caplin said: "This site will be developed in the future and this stadium proposal offers a superb and unique opportunity to enhance the city's assets. It is demonstrably needed not just for football but also for other sports and cultural events."

Lewes District Council said the Falmer site was too sensitive for a 22,000-seat stadium and the scheme would represent a major expansion of the city conurbation.

The council said building at Falmer conflicted with national policies to protect areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Planning inspector John Collyer will send his report and recommendations to the Government in the summer.

A final decision is not expected until the autumn.