A Commons committee has warned that the government's urban regeneration policy must focus on putting right "appalling" parks and squares in UK cities.

Andrew Bennett, chairman of the Commons select committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions said: "High quality public spaces are fundamentally important to the urban renaissance but sadly many in this country are in an appalling state".

The MPs warned ministers carrying out a policy review that plans to improve public spaces must be measured in terms of quality as well as quantity.

"In our report the committee calls for further revision of planning policy and highlights the need to plan for quality and good management of public spaces rather than just concentrating on quantity," said Bennett.

The report argued that local authorities need more cash to prevent existing parks from falling into disrepair and calls for the creation of an "advocate" to speak out in favour of more and better public spaces.

"The underspend on, and bad state of, public spaces shows how important the government's forthcoming review of public spaces will be."