A Bradford MP has welcomed greater safeguards against the sale of school playing fields for new homes.

Gerry Sutcliffe said he "enthusiastically welcomed" the tightening of rules on selling sports fields in the city.

Schools and councils will be forced to prove that selling school pitches - used for by pupils for sports including rugby, football, athletics and cricket - is a "last resort".

And any cash raised by selling green land to developers must be used to bolster other outdoor facilities before it can be spent on indoor projects.

The guidelines were unveiled by the Department of Education and the National Playing Fields Association yesterday.

Mr Sutcliffe, Labour MP for Bradford South, said: "School playing fields are the training grounds for tomorrow's Olympic athletes and national sports stars.

"I've enjoyed nothing more this summer than watching the success of our cricket team and Olympic athletes.

"But we can't guarantee future sporting success without protecting our kids' sports pitches and facilities today.

"Bradford gets its fair share of industrial investment - we need to keep the balance by making sure it has adequate provision for sports."

Councils wanting to sell a school playing field must already get the permission of the Education Secretary.

"And they must prove the land is not needed by other schools or the local community.

But, under the new guidelines, new sports facilities must be sustainable for more than ten years, to ensure they are available to pupils for the long-term.

The Government worked with the campaign group, the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA), to draw up the guidelines.

The body had clashed with the Government in the past, saying the country was losing too many playing fields to developers.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke said: "This means that school playing fields will now not only be protected but will also be improved for the benefit of pupils and the wider community.

And he added: "It should also challenge the misconception that school playing fields have been sold off indiscriminately."

Elsa Davies, outgoing director of the NPFA, said: "It warms my heart enormously to know that, in future, school playing fields will be lost only in the most extreme circumstances and, even when this happens, the income will be used to improve outdoor play and sports facilities."

Councillor Dale Smith, Bradford's executive member for education, said he was unaware of any playing fields under threat in the city.

But he welcomed the new guidelines as an added safeguard for green spaces at schools.

He said: "Since the reorganisation of education we have been relatively stable regarding selling-off playing fields.

"The schools have the facilities they need and there are no plans not to retain them.

"Play is important and sport is important to pupils' welfare so, only with the greatest reluctance would we investigate selling them.

"It is very important to have fit kids - bright bodies equal bright minds."