Objections to plans for a new stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion are fundamentally flawed, an MP has claimed.

Ivor Caplin has called on the Sussex Downs Conservation Board to withdraw its objections to the scheme at Falmer.

He has written to board chairman Lord Renton to reject its claims that there are other sites available for the community stadium, which would allow the Albion to move from Withdean.

The MP for Hove, a lifelong Seagulls fan, said: "The three sites put forward by them as alternatives are unsuitable.

"The agents for the owners of both the greyhound stadium in Hove and the Brighton station sites both confirm they cannot be used for this type of development.

"Shoreham Harbour is completely unsuitable because the infrastructure is not in place and is unlikely to be for between five and ten years.

"The very basis of the board's view in objecting to the Falmer site is flawed.

"I hope they will remove their objection because Falmer is now beyond doubt the only available site south of the Brighton bypass."