MONEY earmarked for London's Olympic Games should be used to provide a first-class sports stadium for York, according to the city's Liberal Democrat group.

Coun Keith Orrell, the Liberal Democrats' executive member for leisure and culture, is asking that a fraction of the £9 billion due to be spent on the London Olympics should be invested in the York area.

He said: "Following the opening of the modernised facilities at Oaklands last year, a new pool will be built there; a new pool and leisure facilities will be provided at the university and Yearsley will get a long overdue upgrade. A new flagship multi-discipline sports stadium for York is a major priority."

He added: "It is time the Government played their part in this modernisation programme. York should get a fair share of national sports funding to support the work our council is doing. The city has many talented sports men and women who deserve an equal chance to develop their skills and perhaps represent Britain in the future."

Coun Orrell said, rather than a brand new stadium, the Liberal Democrats are calling for increased funding for the new football stadium for York City so it will be available for multiple sports and the community.

As reported in The Press last week, the football club is on the verge of signing a deal with landowners and council chiefs for a site, believed to be at British Sugar, York Central or Nestlé North.

But the idea of getting a chunk of cash from the money earmarked for the Olympics has been branded as "fantasy" by York's Labour group.

Group leader Coun Dave Merrett also said the improvements to sports facilities in York were approved by the then ruling Labour council but the Liberal Democrats are now taking credit for them.

Coun Merrett said: "They will know that the Olympic money is likely, in the main, to go to larger centres. We will obviously hope to get an element of it but it is fantasy to expect there's going to be a major sports stadium in York built with Olympic money.

"This is just another Lib Dem con trick and, when they don't get it, they will blame the Labour government. They should get serious."

Coun Merrett said it was the Labour group who approved the initiative to improve Oaklands sports centre in April 2002 and that the majority of the money for it came from the National Lottery.