Stars urge UK government not to scrap Sport England brake on playing field selloff

• Mo Farah and Matthew Pinsent among those to speak out

• Playing fields and facilities at risk of being built over

Sports playing fields and facilities in England are at risk of being built over en masse with devastating consequences for local communities, sports stars and governing bodies have warned.

The former England footballer Jill Scott along with Olympic gold medallists Mo Farah, Alex Yee and Matthew Pinsent, are among 88 signatories to an open letter saying they are deeply concerned" about proposed government planning reforms, and say they would hit poorest communities hardest.