Experts have warned that the planned £250m Olympic stadium for the London 2012 Games will run over budget, if it is to deliver according to its intended purposes.

Architects have compared the costs of the 25,000-seater stadium – which will be expanded to include an extra 55,000 temporary seats during the Games – to those of Wembley (£750m) and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (£360m) and said that the stadium is likely to exceed the allocated budget of £250m.

A spokesperson for London 2012 refuted the claims.

She said: “It is unfair to directly compare these stadiums, as all three will be constructed for completely different purposes.” Details: www.london2012.com