THE British National Party has confirmed it WILL stand in the upcoming local elections in Bury.

It will "definitely" field three candidates in the June 10 poll, and will decide over the weekend whether to put forward a further two.

The party says it is not racist, and says the people of Bury have nothing to fear from the BNP.

It is the first time a far-right party has stood in Bury since 1979, when the National Front contested that year's General Election.

The party has not yet named the candidates or the wards in which they will stand, but will make its decisions in time for Tuesday's deadline for nominations.

A BNP spokesman in Bury said: "The members of the BNP who are standing are doing so in the face of extreme adversity, but we will not be brow-beaten, we will not be told who we can and can't vote for or support. We are standing tall and proud to show the citizens of Bury that they have nothing to fear from the BNP

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BNP promises at least three candidates

or from showing their support. We are not racist, we are democratic; we want equality, not positive discrimination."

The June 10 poll will be the biggest local elections held in Bury since the metropolitan borough was formed 30 years ago.

All 51 seats across 17 wards will be up for grabs.

The BNP will also be contesting the European elections, which are held on the same day.

The Party chairman, Nick Griffin, is at the top of the BNP's list of candidates for the North West, and experts say that, under the proportional representation system, he may need only eight per cent of the vote to become a Member of the European Parliament.