THE British National Party are targeting key wards in Hyndburn in preparation for next year's local elections, it has been revealed.

The right-wing extreme party have dropped leaflets in the Netherton ward of Great Harwood and in Rishton in a strategic attempt to cover all areas that have majority white populations.

The early electioneering comes six weeks after they promised to field ten candidates at next year's local election in June. Twelve of the sixteen wards will be contested, the four not up for re-election are Milnshaw, Huncoat, Immanuel and Clayton-le-Moors.

Deputy Labour group leader Coun David Myles, of Altham ward, said: "It is a pack of lies and they are pulling the wool over people's eyes."

A spokesman for the BNP said they are targeting Hyndburn because they believed they have a lot of support in the borough.

The leaflet entitled Welcome to Hyndburn lists party demands and a number of quotes from Nick Griffin, BNP chairman.

The leaflet, which has been created by BNP party activists living in Hyndburn, has been widely criticised by local councillors for "scaremongering".

The BNP first promised they were going to sit at the next local election, which has been put back a month because of European elections, after they missed this year's because they thought the closing date was April Fool's Day.

Dr Mohammed Rahman, of the targeted Netherton ward, said: "One or two people in my ward have told me about what they are doing. I would like to have an open debate, let them come and talk to me, I would want to refute them on every point and everything they say.

"All that they say can be refuted, they are trying to scare the people on false pretences and there's no truth in it."

Coun Myles said: "The comments in the leaflet are totally unachievable and in the case of HIV, to place the blame at the door of Africa is complete and utter nonsense.

"They are not just racist but they are against homosexuality as well, the leaflet is a pack of lies and it is pulling the wool over people's eye and is an absolute piece of rubbish."

Hyndburn Borough Council leader Coun Peter Britcliffe, of St Andrew's ward, said: "I hear people in Netherton have received them and somebody in Rishton said they had. It seems like an early sign of them targeting areas.

"They are entitled to put a leaflet out if they wish the same as anyone else and people must make up their own minds."

A BNP spokesman said: "We are targeting Hyndburn because we have a great deal of support in the borough.

"We will be standing in the local elections next year and the leaflets are in preparation for that. The leaflets are drawn up by local party activists and they will be working systematically through the whole of the area where whites are the majority population."