A major new science facility in Oxfordshire could have contributed to an £80m black hole in Government funding for research, a group of leading physicists has claimed.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has revealed it under-estimated running costs for the UK's research facilities including the Diamond Synchrotron at Harwell and failed to ask for enough cash under the Government's comprehensive spending review (CSR).

The scientists have now called on the Government to intervene to protect physics research which could be hit hard by the shortfall.

Diamond, which enables scientists to use powerful light beams to study the structure of matter,will cost more than £380m to build and its current running costs are estimated at £30m a year which is set to rise to £46m as work on phase two of the operation starts in 2008.

A recent report by the Commons public accounts committee said Diamond was over budget by £30m.

But bosses say the original estimate of the cost of the project was made ten years ago based on an existing facility at Daresbury in Cheshire which is a sixth of the size of Diamond.

A spokesman added: "The company has been, and remains, committed to delivering within the final negotiated budget."

Science Minister Ian Pearson said Professor Ian Diamond, the chairman of Research Councils UK, had been asked to carry out a review of "all specifics" in relation to funding.