TWO Burnley councillors have been found guilty of bringing their office into disrepute after removing a BNP wreath from a Holocaust memorial.

But Paul Moore and Alice Thornber have escaped any disciplinary action after an investigation into their behaviour last January.

And today Coun Moore said although he was glad the ordeal was over, he stood by his actions.

The councillors were reported to the Standards Board for England after they took a bunch of white lilies placed by former councillor Terry Grogan when he and fellow BNP councillor Carole Hughes attended a service in the town's Peace Garden.

The Standards Board for England, which investigates allegations of misconduct by local councillors, concluded that Coun Moore, who represents Gannow ward and Coun Thornber, who represents Queensgate, behaved "in an unacceptable manner that brought their offices into disrepute".

The councillors said they were so incensed at what they called the "hypocrisy" of the BNP's presence that they took the wreath away. They deny what they did was theft. Police took no action.

The Standards Board ruled that the BNP were entitled to lay flowers, as the mayor had invited all political parties on the council to do so if they chose. It said that, while the two councillors had strongly-held views about the BNP, it was possible for them to make their political protest with out interfering with property.

Because the incident was an isolated one, however, the breach of conduct was not considered serious enough to refer the case to the Standards Committee or to take any further action.

Coun Moore said: "I am very happy the Standards Board have decided to take no action. We were trying to spark a debate about whether it was appropriate for the BNP to lay a wreath at a service in memory of the holocaust, which some members of the party have denied took place, and we were hung out to dry.

"We took a principled stance and received support from many quarters.