THE British National Party (BNP) is planning to push for supporters in Preston and South Ribble in time for the next local elections.

Party members relaunched the Preston branch of their party at a secret meeting, held in an undisclosed location in the city, last week.

At the meeting, members also resolved to campaign for the election of Nick Griffin, the BNP chairman, as a North West MEP at the Euro elections next year.

Mr Griffin joined the BNP in 1995 and was formerly a member of the extreme right group the National Front. In 1999 he became leader of the party and holds an ideal for an all-white Britain.

The party claim their drive to win local government seats in this area has been sparked by increased support from people living in communities "untouched by ethnic minorities".

Former National Front member and BNP activist Dave Jones said: "When I left school in 1972 in the Rusholme area of Manchester, there used to be one Indian restaurant. Now it's called the 'Curry Mile'.

"We are getting a lot of support from the 'white flight' people, those moving out of the inner cities because of what's going on there. I don't know what a racist is. It's a term invented by the Russian communists. If it is someone who puts people together by colour, then I'm not. If it is someone who prefers the company of their own cultural grouping, then I could be.

"But the race issue is secondary to crime and the economy."

Leader of South Ribble Borough Council Howard Gore has urged voters to ignore any canvassing material that may appear through their letter boxes from extremist groups.

"The BNP hide behind a screen of acceptability but actually stand for principles that cause disharmony in communities and are solely based on destruction," he added.

Preston City Council leader John Collins was unavailable for comment.