A SUMMERSEAT businessman has quit his family firm because of his links with the far right British National Party.

Stewart Clough, who stood as a BNP candidate in Tottington in last year's local elections, resigned from Clough's Opticians in Bolton where he had been a director of the company. He has decided to pursue an "alternative career" after a meeting with family members.

A spokesman for the company said: "The management totally deplores the policies of the British National Party.

"Stewart Clough, formerly a director, no longer has any role or financial interest in the business.

Following a family meeting he has amicably agreed to pursue an alternative career. Many of our 25,000 customers and some past and current employees are from a range of cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

"Clough's has given the local community friendly and professional service for more than 50 years and looks forward to continuing in the same peaceful and harmonious way."

Mr Clough, from Summerseat, won 663 votes for the BNP in the 2004 poll and finished in seventh place. He was one of three BNP candidates to contest Bury seats, the first time a far-right party had stood for election in the borough since the National Front in 1979.

Mr Clough's departure from the company comes after a hate campaign against him. Posters daubed with Swastikas and bearing his photograph and home address have appeared on bus shelters and lamp-posts in Bolton town centre. Other posters have appeared in Bolton and Bury town centres over the last three weeks.

Police are treating the matter as incitement of racial hatred and confirmed that they had received a complaint.

Dave Jones, north west spokesman for the BNP, said that he had seen copies of the posters, some of which he said had the word "nazi" scrawled on them.

He added: "The posters are illegal because they are not carrying the name of the printer or publisher This is a particularly pernicious way of behaving which has implications not only of boycotting Mr Clough's business, but also of inflaming and inciting people to carry out an attack on his business.

"We have left the matter in the hands of the police and we are working on leads about who might have a grudge against Stewart."

He added that Mr Clough was "incensed and annoyed" by the posters.

Insp Martin Freschini, of Bolton police, said: "We received a complaint that offensive racist posters had been seen in the Bolton and Bury area that could incite racial hatred.

"We informed the council who removed them from bus shelters and lamp-posts.

"The matter was investigated but we were unable to ascertain the origin of the posters." Mr Clough was unavailable for comment.