By political editor Paul Francis

The sports minister and Kent MP Hugh Robertson has played down doubts about whether the Commonwealth games in India will go ahead.

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Mr Robertson said that he wanted athletes from Britain to participate in the games being held in Delhi and was confident they would take place as planned.

"I would encourage people to go. We are monitoring the situation very closely but at this time, the games are going ahead.

"Anybody who knows anything about Delhi and India always knew this was going to come down to the wire.

"Construction deadlines were very tight and the monsoon season has been very heavy and the security situation is always pretty testing," he said.

Ashford runner Lisa Dobriskey is among athletes who have pulled out but says she is doing so because of injury.

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The preparations have been blighted by problems with reports of sub-standard facilities for athletes and the collapse of a stadium bridge injuring 20 peope.

Mr Robertson said his own plans to attend the games had not changed:

"This is a Delhi problem not a problem for the Games. India has never done this before so there were bound to be some nervous moments before the start."