A town's football stadium has been described as a better design than the new Wembley.

Wayne Hemingway, founder of the Red or Dead fashion label, has praised Princes Park for its green features.

Mr Hemingway now runs a design and consultancy business which is involved in The Bridge development in Dartford.

He says he is impressed with the stadium's grass roof, solar panels and other environmentally-friendly features. Mr Hemingway said: "It's number one on environmental grounds.

"It's a shame Wembley hasn't grasped the opportunity in the same way."

He added: "I think it's a very brave and very forward-thinking thing which has been done."

Princes Park, home of Dartford Football Club, was opened in November last year and has its own water recycling system for pitch irrigation. A 4,100 capacity crowd watched the first match played at the stadium, when the club returned to Dartford after a 14-year exile. Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite says he is delighted the stadium has been singled out for praise. He said: "I think it's significant because when we look back at our football stadia 20 years from now, Princes Park will be seen as a watershed. "Everything we've done is designed to make things cheaper in the long run."

Architect Roger Sedgley, from Alexander Sedgley, who worked on the building, said: "It was refreshing to be encouraged to create something special and different to the normal, small football stadium.

"It was great to be able to make the building more sustainable."

"We are proud of our innovative work on water saving for pitch irrigation and the use of timber in the building."