England may pull out of Commonwealth Games

There appears to be a genuine risk of England pulling out of next year's Commonwealth Games in India with police and security advisers fearing the team will be the target of Pakistani militants.

UK Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson visited Delhi earlier this month to inspect the Games sites and is said to have voiced serious concerns about the security arrangements.

A spokeswoman for the English Commonwealth Games has told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the security situation is being monitored and a final decision on whether to take part will be made next year.

The UK's Daily Telegraph says advisers feel the safety of athletes cannot currently be guaranteed.

It would be the first time England has not competed in the 80-year history of the Games, to be held in New Delhi in October.

The report comes after the England badminton team pulled out of the world championships in India in August, saying security in the host city of Hyderabad was lax.

New Zealand's commitment to participating in the Commonwealth Games has not changed according to New Zealand's Olympic Committee.