PLYMOUTH Argyle chiefs have issued a rallying cry to the Westcountry to support a bid to host World Cup games and help speed up plans to create the "Wembley of the South West".

The football club's executive director, Keith Todd, told decision-makers at a reception in Westminster to promote the bid that it would provide an economic kickstart not seen since the rebuilding of Plymouth after the Second World War. And Mr Todd used the event at the House of Commons to issue a call for people in Plymouth and across Devon and Cornwall to get behind the ambitious move.

Bid chairman Douglas Fletcher said bringing matches to Plymouth in 2018 would be worth at least £100 million to the economy of Devon and Cornwall.

Among those lining up to back the consortium's bid were the Pilgrims' manager Paul Sturrock and head coach Paul Mariner, together with four of the region's MPs, Alison Seabeck, Linda Gilroy, Gary Streeter, and Colin Breed.

Also attending were members of the consortium including the University of Plymouth and the city council.

Mr Todd said: "The World Cup is the biggest media event in the whole world. We would see a huge economic stimulus, I would suggest not seen since the rebuilding of Plymouth in the 1950s."

It would not only attract inward investment, but also speed it up, he said, adding: "The World cup is entirely complementary of everything we are going to do with Plymouth Argyle.

"We are going to create the Wembley of the South West. The World Cup accelerates that."

Mr Streeter, Tory MP for South West Devon, said: "I think it's a very exciting bid and high time the people of Plymouth, and Devon and Cornwall, became more ambitious for our region. We are all behind it."

The consortium – and the 15 cities it is up against – now has until November 26 to put together a submission to the FA.

A decision on which cities will be chosen as part of England's application to host the tournament will then be made before Christmas.

England is up against eight other countries in its own bid to host the World Cup, including Russia, the United States and Australia. It must deliver its bid by May next year, with FIFA's executive committee due to select the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts in December next year.

To pledge your support, go to www.plymouthworldcupbid.com, click on the red square link to the FA's England 2018 site and then scroll down the page to the voting registration web link. Alternatively, text 'Plymouth' to 62018.