BUSINESS owners today spoke out about their decision to back a BNP election candidate and admitted: "We made a mistake."

Grocer Hazel Matthews is listed as seconder on nomination papers for far-right party candidate Patricia Thomson for Thursday's Burnley Council elections.

Her husband Bob and newsagent Neal Pratt are listed as two of eight assentors (backers).

But Mr Matthews, who runs a convenience store in Burnley Road, Harle Syke, with his wife, has now made a bid to distance himself from the party after being confronted by disgruntled customers.

In a letter to Briercliffe LibDem councillor Roger Frost and County Councillor Stephen Large, Mr Matthews said: "I would like to make my feelings perfectly clear about myself and the BNP.

"About a month ago a customer of mine called in the shop and said she wanted to stand in the council election.

"She asked me to sign the form, which I did. She has always struck me as an honest, decent person so I thought she would do some good for our community.

"However, in hindsight this was a mistake on my part. I have never been all that politically motivated. There is no way I am, or have ever been, or ever will be connected to the BNP."

Newsagent Mr Pratt said: "I knew she was a BNP candidate. I have signed a few forms over the years for different parties.

"If I had known it would have caused so much trouble I would not have done."

Coun Frost said: "I have spoken to Bob Matthews and Neal Pratt on the telephone about their names appearing on BNP nomination forms.

"I advised Bob that the nomination had been accepted by the elections officer of Burnley Borough Council and that it had already been published.

"I did offer Bob and Hazel the opportunity to retract what would be seen as their support for the BNP via a Liberal Democrat leaflet which was distributed this weekend. However, Bob did not want his name mentioning in this context and we decided not to publish any names.

"Neal Pratt has also spoken to me. He did not want to be quoted on the leaflet either."

BNP candidate Patricia Thomson said: "I got my nomination papers and I went into the shop and I said how do you feel about the BNP because I'm standing for them. Bob Matthews signed my form and his wife signed it too.

"If he had changed his mind about it, why didn't he come to me?

"We always used to go in the shop so he knows who I am. There was no coercion from me.

"I have a list of people who would have signed for me it wasn't that I was struggling or was at the last minute."

Burnley Borough Council said it was not investigating. Gillian Taylor, the council's returning officer and chief executive, said: "If a nomination paper is submitted within the prescribed statutory timetable and fulfils all the relevant criteria it is a valid nomination. At no point can an assentor withdraw their signature from a nomination paper.

"If an individual feels they have been misled they can refer the matter to the police if they wish or seek legal advice."