A campaign to protect green belt land in the West Midlands is focusing attention on proposals to build the national football stadium in the area.

"Mind the Gap" is a pressure group concerned with the future of the Meridian Gap, the area of green belt that separates Solihull and Coventry.

The group says the most immediate threat to the area could be Birmingham's bid to build the new Wembley.

Campaigners aim to raise awareness of the issues at a demonstration on Wednesday.

Leisure complex

Birmingham unveiled the �324m bid to be the home of the national football stadium in August.

The 85,000-seater stadium would host football and rugby league events as well as music concerts and would also feature a leisure complex.

The proposed location for the new stadium is a green-field site near the National Exhibition Centre and the M42.

"Mind the Gap" has representatives from local parish councils, residents associations and environmental action groups.

Public meeting

At a public meeting this month the group released a statement: "The meeting was unanimous in supporting the move to strongly oppose the national stadium at this site.

"This opposition will be evident at all the planning stages within Solihull Council and at any future public inquiry.

"All necessary actions will be taken to stop a national stadium being developed on green belt land within the Meridian Gap."

Solihull Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the national stadium project at a meeting in September.

The vote to support the Birmingham bid was supported by 32 votes to three.

Raise awareness

The group is also opposing a motorway service station, proposed for the same area, near the national stadium site.

Families from Hampton-in-Arden, Catherine de Barnes, Balsall Common, Meriden and Knowle are meeting at a sports centre in Hampton-in -Arden on Wednesday.

Children will form a "Mind the Gap" football team to raise awareness of the campaign to protect the Meriden Gap.