Fields, a sub-group of the Lady Bay Community Association, has been canvassing residents in the area asking them to oppose the plans for a site between Holme Pierrepont and Lady Bay.

The group wants people to write to Rushcliffe Borough Council Leader Neil Clarke, Notts County Council leader Kay Cutts, and chairman of the England 2018 bid team, Lord Triesman, and object to the proposed stadium.

Nottingham is one of 16 towns and cities across England bidding to host matches if England's campaign to stage the 2018 World Cup is successful.

A spokesman for the group said: "Fields is not against the bid – we just think it is entirely the wrong location.

"It is greenbelt land and a large number of people enjoy it.

"The reason we sent the letters out is to make sure everybody knows about the plans."

Fields was launched more than 20 years ago to oppose development of the land to the East of Lady Bay and around Holme Pierrepont.

They have said that they are opposing the plans because the proposed stadium would be built on green belt land, the location is on the Trent floodplain, it is next to a Grade II-listed building, Simikins Farm, the site is next to a home for the disabled, a caravan site would be need to be moved and there are inadequate public transport links.

The spokesman said: "The stadium proposal would go right on the Greenacres site.

"The residents had no knowledge of the proposal until we send these letters out.

"People have spent their life savings to spend the rest of their lives there.

"They are all very upset about this."

Fields believes there are more appropriate sites which could be chosen for the new stadium such as the City Ground and Meadow Lane, which are already home to two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest and Notts County respectively.

The City Ground staged matches during Euro96.

Fields hope that if enough objections are submitted there will be a public inquiry into the plans.

The next phase of the bidding process is due to be submitted tomorrow.