Labour came face-to-face with their unofficial welcome committee last night as thousands of Albion fans took their campaign for a new stadium to the streets.

Fans, players, politicians and celebrities seized the chance to make their message clear: "There's only one site in Brighton - it's Falmer."

Whistles, drums and chants filled the air as the blue and white parade snaked from Madeira Drive to the Brighton Centre. Hundreds of banners and placards were held aloft, many displaying the good humour which has become a hallmark of the campaign.

One read: "Enjoy your conference - but don't condemn us to ours." A group of supporters in wheelchairs carried a banner reading: "Without Falmer we don't have a leg to stand on."

Many held up posters from The Argus bearing the campaign's official slogan.

Five supporters carried a 12ft length of 'Brighton rock' with the words running, they claimed, all the way through it.

There was laughter as fans chanted: "Falmer Or We Vote Tory".

And the more vocal campaigners chimed in with a rousing rendition of terrace favourite "There's only one Dick Knight."

Mr Knight, the club's chief executive, said he was delighted with the crowd, estimated to be about 5,000.

Labour support One of the first people to assemble in Madeira Drive was Brighton Pavilion Labour MP David Lepper and his wife Jeane.

Mr Lepper said: "We have got to look no further than Falmer. It is the best site. This march shows the support for it."

He was joined by Labour Party colleagues including Steve Bassam and city council leader Ken Bodfish.

Former Albion boss Micky Adams, now manager at Leicester, was also there showing support for his old club.

Lisa Reynolds, 35, from Moulsecoomb, Brighton, died her hair blue and brought her young daughter Bethany.

She said: "We have a first-class team and what we need now is a first-class stadium."

Her friend Trudie Weeks, from Coldean, Brighton, was with her daughters Jade, 13, Georgia, six, and Hannah, eight.

She said: "I've followed the Albion around the country and seen some of the excellent stadiums in the Championship.

"We must have a stadium to continue to compete in that league.

"Falmer is a must, it's not an area of outstanding natural beauty at all - it is is a cluster of university buildings and a pond with geese that bite."

Mick Honeywood, 53, from Hove, was with his granddaughter Louisa Gibson, who was only born in August and was officially registered as Albion's youngest fan the day after she was born.

He said: "I broke my neck and my back through supporting the Albion when I was injured in a car crash on my way back from a game at Chesterfield.

"I want Louisa to be able to see the Albion in a proper stadium, hopefully at Falmer."

Player power Virtually the entire first team squad of players, buoyed by their 1-0 victory over Gillingham at the weekend, joined the march.

Defender-turned-striker Adam Virgo said: "We're getting things right as a team and we all want to play in a modern stadium. We are here because it is our future as well as the club's future."

The players joked with fans, signing autographs and posing for photos. Winger Nathan Jones turned TV reporter himself, interviewing fans with a borrowed camera.

Grandmother Sheila Wise was celebrating her 68th birthday on the march with her husband Mike, her daughter Mandy Piper and her son Darren Wise and their children.

Sheila, from Patcham, Brighton, said: "It's certainly a different way to celebrate my birthday. I've got a cake at home to have.

"What's the point of calling ourselves a city when we haven't got a proper football stadium?"

When the march reached the Brighton Centre there was a huge chorus of "Albion, Albion".

It was almost as loud as the cheers which echoed round the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff after Albion won the play-off final to reach the Coca-Cola Championship at the end of last season.

The blue-and-white army was greeted by Government minister Ivor Caplin, waving from the balcony.

The campaign has gone beyond the traditional rivalry between clubs. Ian Todd, president of The Football Supporters' Federation, said: "This is one of the occasions when supporters' clubs get together to help each other.

"That's very important. It was a disgrace to suggest there was no national interest in there being a football club in Brighton."

Ardent West Ham fan, singer and socialist Billy Bragg also joined the march wearing an Albion shirt given to him by a supporter.

He said: "Now Brighton is a city you need to have a cathedral built and a stadium."

Billy, a supporter of The Football Trust said: "We are not just in town to breeze through, we are here to support local people and these things are very important."

Marcus Ruff, 41, of Woodland Avenue, Hove, has been a supporter for more than 30 years.

He said: "Look at the size of the city, look at the level of support. It really should be happening.

"I can't believe we now have to wait until February. We are going to make them hear us."

Supporter David Brooks, 19, from Worthing, took one of the youngest supporters on the march, his son Jamie, five months old tomorrow.

His dad said: "I'm hoping Jamie will be able to see Albion games at Falmer. It was important to bring him along here to show support."

David, who has been a supporter since he was 13 added: "I think Jamie is really fascinated by this. This is important because John Prescott needs to get the message."

Lifelong Albion supporters Michele Hewitt, 48, her husband John and daughter Claire joined friends Sarah Watts and Jenny Jeffery, 61 to carry a giant stick of rock above the crowd.

Jenny of Valley Drive, Withdean, Brighton, said: "We always try to be funny we don't try to be nasty when we are doing our protest.

"We hope Mr Prescott has heard us. I'm sure he must have done."