BURNLEY and Millwall are in a bitter race war following the weekend defeat at Millwall.

Clarets chief Stan Ternent blasted home fans who targeted Clarets defender Mo Camara throughout 90 relentless minutes.

Ternent's allegations of 'monkey chants' being aimed at his player were backed up by celebrity Clarets fan Alastair Campbell, and several supporters who made the long trek to the New Den and reported the matter to police and stewards.

However, Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis today condemned Ternent's allegations of "monkey chants" and launched his own bitter broadside at the Burnley boss.

Ternent said: "I felt the crowd abused Mo and I think it is scandalous. I feel very sorry for Theo (Paphitis) and the Millwall people because they are trying extremely hard to eradicate it, but there is no place for that sort of behaviour and I think those people should be surrounded and locked up.

"It's a BNP stronghold down here and I know all about it because we have them in Burnley.

"I don't mind if the fans want to boo him, but monkey chants are racist."

Paphitis, who revealed Burnley fans had not only complained about racist abuse coming from Millwall fans, but also from their own supporters, replied: "I am going to have a rant about this because I have worked my nuts off to solve this and we have done more than any other football club to stamp on the problem.

"I've spoke to Stan and told him it's not on. He says this is a BNP stronghold, but what does he know? I doubt Stan knows what BNP stands for - he probably read it on the back of a cornflake packet!"

Former Downing Street Director of Communications Campbell, a life-long Burnley fan, condemned Millwall this morning after witnessing racist chants from both sets of supporters first hand.

Mr Campbell, who called for the authorities to clamp down on the racist chanting, was even more upset when a "shameful, tiny handful" of Clarets fans replied by doing the same to Millwall's coloured players.

But opinion was divided among Clarets fans, with Malcolm Hibbert from the Burnley Supporters Club saying he did not hear any racial abuse, while Rossendale Clarets member Bev Todd backed Ternent's stance.

Lewisham police said there had been no arrests made at Saturday's game and no major disturbances had been reported.