Lord Sebastian Coe is the latest high-profile addition to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals.

The former Olympic gold medalist has agreed a sabattical from his role on the Fifa ethics committee - which decided the bidding process - to join the campaign as a non-executive board member.

He led London's successful campaign to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

"I look forward to playing my part in our bid. I am passionate about football so am delighted to be standing alongside many other people and football greats up and down the country in bidding for this event," he said.

"Winning the football World Cup would be the hat-trick in a golden era for sport in the UK following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

"I would like to thank Fifa President Mr Blatter for agreeing to this arrangement."