A fund that was set up by the government with £125 million of lottery funds has failed to create a single extra playing field for Britain's schoolchildren, it has emerged.

The Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Initiative was unveiled by former culture secretary Chris Smith in 1999.

Forum Response: Sport England

A spokesman for Sport England told ePolitix.com: "The £125 million set aside by the New Opportunities Fund for green spaces and sustainable communities is not all for playing fields. Just over £30million of that money has been delegated to Sport England for playing fields and green spaces. A very important part of the programme is to ensure that we know what we need and where we need it. So we are busy talking to communities about what they want rather than pushing the money out before we are properly prepared. By the end of the year, £25 million pounds will have been awarded, and will create or improve playing fields across the country."

Forum Response: New Opportunities Fund

A spokeswoman for the New Opportunities Fund told ePolitix.com: "Not all of the £125 million was targeted for school playing fields. £31 million was given to Sport England for the development of playing fields but the rest of the money has been successfully targeted towards regenerating green playing areas in Britain's towns and cities."