A BRITISH National Party candidate today explained his decision to stand in Blackburn's Mill Hill by-election.

Father-of-one Robin Evans, of Darwen, will contest the Blackburn with Darwen Council seat on November 2, aftert the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Edmund Critchley, who has moved to Sussex.

Council leader Bill Taylor has called on Mill Hill residents to vote Conservative or Liberal Democrat, which oppose his ruling Labour group, before voting for the BNP.

Mr Evans said Blackburn hadchanged considerably over the years with large numbers of immigrants coming to the East Lancashire town.

Mr Evans who lives with his wife and ten-year-old son in Darwen said he had watched the BNP with interest for a while but he only joined after he picked up a leaflet and rang them in July.

He put his name forward for the candidacy in September and was given the position at the end of the month.

Mr Evans said he joined because he wanted to help make a future for his son.

"I'm interested in the way the country has changed and what I have seen has motivated me to take action."

Coun Taylor said: "The fact that a BNP candidate is standing for the Mill Hill by-election is at best disappointing, at worst disturbing."

Fears of the BNP were first raised when the by-election was announced last month.

Leader of the Lib Dem group, Coun Paul Browne, urged the Tories and Labour to fight the election to stamp out any threat from the BNP.

Robin Evans will be up against Labour's former executive member for resources Gail Barton, who will try to regain the seat she lost in May, David D'arcy of the Lib Dems and Conservative candidate Karl Turner.