A BNP activist has been cleared of attacking an Anti-Nazi League supporter as trouble flared between rival political groups outside Burnley Town Hall.

Supporter of the far-right party Michael Sean Brennan, of Manchester Road, Accrington, was accused of kicking Michael Killian in the head as newly-elected BNP councillors arrived for their first meeting last May.

But magistrates found the 43-year-old, who denied assault by beating, acted in self-defence. Mr Brennan, a self-employed joiner and father-of-two, told Burnley Magistrates' Court he had gone to the event with a video camera on behalf of the BNP to record any disorder. He became involved in the disturbance when he saw Mr Killian approach the car delivering the councillors.

He told the court he thought a pipe bomb could have exploded and that an assassination attempt could be in progress.

In fact protesters were just throwing eggs and flour at the far-right councillors.

Mr Brennan, who failed to get elected as a BNP councillor in a by-election in Pendle last year, said: "I heard a crack or a bang and my attention was drawn to a man trying to get access to the rear door of the car. I took off towards them."

He added: "I thought there could have been a terrorist attack of some description or it could have been an assassination."

He said he grabbed Mr Killian by the scruff of the neck to pull him away from the councillors and then aimed a kick at his abdomen, which failed to connect.

Another witness, BNP member Paul Frankland, of Clitheroe, said he then saw a police officer push Mr Killian towards the ground and thought he had hit his head, which could have caused the cut.

Philip Turner, defending, said: "Mr Brennan was there for legitimate purposes. He was not there to demonstrate, he wanted to record any disorder. He reacted in a way that most people would do and tried to prevent infliction of harm on others."