BASINGSTOKE'S MP is pressing to ring the changes in the way the London Olympics are marketed in Britain.

Maria Miller raised the plight of the Basingstoke 2011+1 group during a debate in the House of Commons focusing on the 2012 Games.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and consultancy firm Scott Wilson teamed up to launch the group in October in a bid to promote Basingstoke as a training and accommodation base for teams competing in London.

However, it was forced to abandon its original title, Basingstoke 2012, by rules prohibiting using the Olympics or 2012 for promotional purposes.

Basingstoke 2011+1 was adopted as a working title, but The Gazette recently launched a competition inviting readers to suggest a permanent name.

Mrs Miller presented the name dilemma to Richard Caborn, sports minister, as an example of red tape gone mad, and now he has vowed to speak to the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games about the issue.

Mrs Miller, who was part of the committee which drew up the rules governing the use of the Olympic brand for promotional purposes, believes the branding problem was brewing from an early stage.

She told The Gazette: "I took great glee in bringing to the att-ention of the minister the problems I said we would have when it was discussed six months ago.

"Basingstoke 2011+1 is an organisation that is trying to help the London Olympics, but it is being prohibited from doing so."

It is possible the minister could clear the way for Basingstoke 2012 to be used again. If this does not happen, Mrs Miller has suggested Team Basingstoke - which has also been suggested by a Gazette reader - as an alternative.

Gill Smith, environment manager for Basing View-based Scott Wilson, said: "It would be perfect if we could go back to using Basingstoke 2012 because it says what it does on the tin. It shows what we are and we've already got the e-mail addresses and website registered under that."

Just in case there is not a change of heart, the Basingstoke Olympics group will still judge the name competition suggestions and decide on an alternative permanent branding.