The government has denied accusations that it is failing on its promise to end the sale of community and school playing fields.

Don Foster, the shadow culture, media and sport secretary for the Liberal Democrats, said that 314 small playing fields had been sold in 2005-6, despite the Government's pledge to end the practice.

Foster’s claim comes after the government published its figures on the planning applications involving playing fields.

The figures show that 40 planning applications were accepted on sites which Sport England believed constituted a 'threat' to local sports facilities, with up to 90 additional applications still to be considered.

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe denied the claims and said the government had introduced tough measures to safeguard the future of playing fields.

He said: “The measures are working and it destroys the myth that playing fields are being lost.

“As we look to increase sports participation I’d like to see more school sports pitches and facilities opened up to wider community use and local authorities putting sport higher up their agenda.

“Evidence shows that when you give people the sports facilities they want which they can use all year round participation goes up.”