BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has called for the government to move swiftly to build a replacement for Wembley Stadium.

He has told Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Tessa Jowell that he has been pressing for a new national stadium for soccer and rugby league for years. He said: "Whatever facilities there are in other parts of the United Kingdom, there should be a national stadium in London, preferably at Wembley. This is becoming something of a fiasco. People in the football world want a solution as soon as possible."

Mrs Jowell said a review of the project was being conducted to see if it could be funded and managed at Wembley.

She added: "The projective cost of the project had more than doubled during the planning stage. The FA has so far been unable to develop an effective business plan, nor has it secured any substantial financial backing.

"The government support the FA's desire for a modern, national stadium.

"However, the prime mover is the FA -- the government, in this context, are not a walking cheque book or a stadium developer.

"But we must remember that any cost over-runs that require public funding, often running into millions, represent money not spent on inner city sports facilities for our children who want the chance to be the champions of the future."