... but poll suggests support is slipping

While the London 2012 team may be buoyed by its victory on planning permission, it emerges that public support may be slipping.

An Evening Standard poll suggests that the fervour over the Athens Games may not have fuelled public approval for the 2012 bid.

The YouGov research today shows that 57 per cent of Londoners broadly support the campaign to bring the Games to the capital - 10 per cent less than in June.

The poll also reveals that nationwide an average of 57 per cent are in favour of the campaign to bring the Games to London in 2012.

Surprisingly, therefore, people living in the capital - who stand to benefit from better transport links and a raft of new sports facilities if London wins the bid - do not appear to be more keen than those living in other parts of the country.

A Populus survey in June suggested that 67 per cent of Londoners backed the Olympic bid.

Mike Lee, spokesman for London 2012, the organisation leading the bid, said: "From talking to other bid cities, including those successful in previous bids, we understand that public opinion does move around a bit at this stage.

"We are not too concerned by short-term movements."

The average London household would be charged at least ?200 extra in council tax, over 10 years, to fund the Games, and a further ?1.5 billion Lottery cash would be needed.