COUNCIL bosses are set to send a bill to the organisers of a far right protest march in Burnley – after insisting they were not welcome in the town.

Around 150 people, including delegates from Scotland, Yorkshire and across East Lancashire, paraded along Centenary Way as part of a North West Frontline Firm demonstration.

Heavily marshalled by police, with around 50 officers, police horses, riot vans and the force helicopter overhead, marchers listened to speeches outside the town’s central library on the ‘Islamifcation’ of Britain and access rights of Eastern European immigrants.

But Coun Mark Townsend, deputy council leader and resources cabinet member, said he was irritated the authority had been left with a bill for the demonstration.

He said: “This was not about local issues and hasn’t been organised locally.

“Taxpayers’ money and police officers’ hours could have been put to much better use.

“We will now be sending the organisers a bill for some of the costs we incurred, such as putting up crowd control barriers.”

Chief Supt Chris Bithell, divisional commander of Burnley Police, said: “The demonstration passed off peacefully and without incident and I would like to thank the local community for the help and tolerance during this event and in the lead up to them.

“All of our officers and staff should also be commended for their efforts, as well as those who we worked alongside from outside agencies, in particular Burnley Council and community volunteers.” Counter demonstrators from Unite Against Fascism, North East Lancashire Trades Union Council, Lancashire Council of Mosques and East Lancs Students Against Fascism held a vigil in Hammerton Street during the march, and Paul Jenkins, north-west UAF head, said: “It is very important we had a presence. Burnley has rejected the far right in the ballot box and we don’t want them making a comeback here.”