Hundreds of protesters pelted the French National Front leader's car with eggs, rocks and waste bins as he left a British National Party news conference in Altrincham.

Right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen was in Greater Manchester to give his support to the BNP but their were calls for him to get out and stay out.

Preparations for the news conference had taken place under a cloak of secrecy with journalists only told the venue an hour before the conference began.

But protesters discovered the venue and by the end of the news conference, several hundred had gathered outside the hotel.

Manchester City Councillor Afzal Khan told us, "People like Le Pen are not welcome here. If the BNP want to have meetings they can do it somewhere else - like Mars!"

"He should get out and stay out because his is the same agenda as the BNP's. That is to tear communities apart."

One of the protestors Alec McFadden, of the North-west TUC, said, "We staged this protest to try to prevent the increase of racial tension and violence, which historically comes about when the BNP makes these kinds of public statements. Bringing from France a man we consider to be one of the most hated men of Europe was a terrible decision.

"Any violence is down to the BNP and the Home Secretary for allowing this man into the country."

Speaking to Asian Image, Lib Dem candidate Sajjad Karim who is standing against BNP leader Nick Griffin in the upcoming European Election said, "Everyone has the right to visit this country however deplorable their views. There is a legitimate way of ensuring his kind of views are defeated and that is through the ballot box."

"I hope people will now realise how crucial these European Elections are and cast their vote accordingly."

"There is no room for such poisoness views in society."

Despite having been convicted of racism or anti-Semitism at least six times, Le Pen went on to deny he was racist on the grounds that his party was open to all colours and denominations.

A police spokeswoman said officers were forced to intervene after the trouble flared during the visit.

She said, "Greater Manchester Police put proportionate policing in place to respond to the situation. Police intervened to prevent public disorder and to allow the free movement of individuals."

Later in the evening massive security stopped protesters gathering within miles of the BNP dinner for Le Pen.

Dozens of police guarded the country lanes for miles around ensuring that a repeat of earlier angry protests was prevented.