Leicestershire residents are campaigning against plans to create a park and ride site on land they had earmarked for a sports ground.

Earlier this year Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council unveiled joint plans for a �22.5m scheme to ease congestion in the city centre.

The plans include building three park and ride sites - each with space for more than 1,000 cars - at Aylestone, Birstall and at Glenfield.

But people living near the A50 Groby Road in Glenfield say the development would be visually intrusive, and take up land which they had earmarked for a sports ground.

There is a big congestion issue in central Leicestershire that has to be addressed Eddie Tryer, Project Leader

Residents and councillors in Glenfield are proposing an alternative site to the north of Groby road.

Glenfield Parish Council, which owns the land, also says it wanted to use the land as a sports ground.

Project Leader for the Park and Ride Scheme, Eddie Tryer, said: "The site we have chosen is by far the best despite it being in a green wedge.

"There is a big congestion issue in central Leicestershire that has to be addressed."

Campaigners have also pointed out the site is in a protected 'green wedge' area.

Blaby District Council is meeting on Friday to decide whether to lodge a formal objection against the plans.

But those behind the scheme have said all options were considered.