Sports stars have added their weight to the fight to save playing fields at a school threatened with closure.

Boxers Alan and Ross Minter and Arsenal Ladies footballer Faye White have backed a campaign to keep open Three Bridges First School in Gales Place, Crawley.

They fear Britain's next generation of potential sporting heroes will suffer if the valuable training grounds are used for housing and that children's health will deteriorate.

West Sussex County Council wants to merge Three Bridges First School with nearby Three Bridges Middle School, creating a 570-pupil all-through primary.

Parents are concerned their children's education will suffer if the schools merge and the first school site has to close.

And the protest about the loss of playing fields has given added momentum to the campaign.

Crawley welterweight Ross Minter and Three Bridges Football Club chairman Alan Bell met children at the fields this morning to discuss the proposals.

Three Bridges Cricket Club chairman Colin Tennant and community tennis coach Kerry Papworth have joined Alan and Ross Minter, Ms White and Mr Bell in signing a letter of protest.

It says: "We oppose the plans as we believe that the playing fields should be protected for the children's sport and recreational purposes.

"The sporting community therefore adds its voice to parents, teachers, governors, residents, councillors and Crawley's MP who do not support amalgamation of the First and Middle schools."

Three Bridges Campaign member Adrian Barrott said: "Trevor Brooking calls playing fields the green lungs of urban communities.

"Not only are they a valued part of the landscape which the whole community appreciates, they are also crucial to our young people for their sporting opportunities.

"One in eight children now develops asthma. This is not the right time for playing fields to be sacrificed for profit."

Ross Minter has lost just one of his seven professional bouts. His father Alan was undisputed world middleweight boxing champion in the Seventies.

Faye White has 31 England caps. All the sportspeople backing the campaign have strong links to the Three Bridges area.

A decision on the merger proposals is due to be made by the School's Organisation Committee at a meeting on September 19.

Last month all parties on Crawley Borough Council voted to oppose the plans. Nearby residents have also signed protest petitions, fearing their gardens will be cut in half by proposed new housing on the site.