RIVAL political leaders claim that a leaked British National Party membership list highlights the party’s failure to make inroads amongst East Lancashire voters.

The names, addresses and phone numbers of more than 250 East Lancashire BNP members were included in the document that was posted on the internet this week.

Nationally, there were 12,000 people on the list, including police officers, teachers and soldiers.

Some people whose BNP membership was made public by the list claim they had since received threatening and abusive phone calls and emails.

The leaked document prompted a united response from Blackburn with Darwen council leader Coun Colin Rigby and his Burnley counterpart, Coun Gordon Birtwistle, who said the party was a “nonsense”.

Burnley BNP leaders responded by saying that the leak was the work of “cranks” and claimed they were unconcerned that personal details were out in the public domain.

The Burnley area, which has four BNP councillors, has 81 members according to the list - the most in East Lancashire.

Coun Birtwistle said: “If 81 people out of 65,000 want to be a member they are obliged to do so. In the context of Burnley these figures are minor.

“There influence on the council is nil because they rarely turn up to meetings but I have to accept that there are people who wish to be part of an extreme far right political party.”

Blackburn and Darwen has 54 registered BNP members, while there are 33 in the Nelson area and 26 around Colne.

The Ribble Valley has 18 listed members.

Coun Rigby added: “The BNP is a nonsense of a party which makes a lot of noise and will never get anywhere.

"Nobody wants them and they are divisive faction and we have luckily got no councillors in Blackburn with Darwen.”

Coun Sharon Wilkinson, leader of the Burnley BNP group and ward councillor for Hapton with Park, said members she had spoke to were unconcerned by the list being in the public domain.

She said: “All my details are out there anyway and nothing has happened to me during my time as a councillor.

"What has happened shows there are cranks out there who want to do harm.”

Members of the county’s police and prison service are banned from being members of the BNP and Lancashire Constabulary said no employees were understood to be signed up.

A spokesman added: "If a member of staff does appear on the list then we will have to address the issue and they will be dealt with."