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Government figures released yesterday show that the cost of the 2012 Olympic stadium has increased by £22m in just ten weeks to an estimated £547m.

This could see the final cost rise above the £620m construction fees for Wembley - the home of English football.

The Sir Robert McAlpine led Team Stadium is building the 2012 showpiece which was originally budgeted to cost £282m in 2004 when London was bidding for the Games.

Officials in charge of the Olympic build will have to spend £20m boosting the skills of British workers to plug the gap left by Polish builders and electricians who have returned home.

The Olympic Delivery Authority, London Development Agency (LDA) and other organisations will have to stump up the cash to spend on fast tracking British workers throug