BURNLEY councillors were blamed for the rise of the British National Party in the town during a high-profile anti-racism rally last night.

The event at Turf Moor was the first meeting of the Coalition Against Racism, a body set up with the specific aim of removing Burnley's three BNP councillors from office.

Speaking at the meeting, political activist and community leader Shahid Malik said that politicians had forgotten how to engage with the people.

He said: "There are many wards in this town where politicians haven't been as visible as they would need to be.

"All parties here need to take steps to ensure there is no vacuum that the BNP can fill."

Mr Malik said it was a criticism of Burnley Borough Council, but a "positive one".

He added: "We need to do a lot more.

"You don't win hearts and minds by sitting in town halls or having token surgeries once a week where no-one attends.

"Mainstream parties need to be more imaginative.

"If that means going to the streets and knocking on doors then that is what needs to be done - what politics used to be about."

The coalition urged more than 200 people at the meeting to vote for any mainstream party, a move which they say would remove two councillors at the next elections in May 2003 and a third at the 2004 elections.

Leader of Burnley Borough Council, Stuart Caddy and Bishop of Burnley the Rt Rev John Goddard were speakers and the meeting with members of the Trades Union Council and the Anti-Nazi League.

Coun Caddy defended the council and his own record.

He said: "The response was absolutely tremendous.

"I was particularly pleased to see so many young people there." He said Mr Malik was "not within the political arena in Burnley".

He added: "If he saw the amount of work I have done I don't think he would say that.

"He should go out to Worsthorne and Cliviger to find out why people voted for the BNP.

"I have, and I have accepted that the council could have done more to communicate, but has he?"

To counter the coalition BNP members in Burnley have launched their own Pro-Democracy League.

Thirty members of the far right party protested outside the football club last night, waving banners and heckling those arriving.

A spokesman for the BNP said: "Free speech is a right we all enjoy in this country and all legally registered political parties have a right to seek support from the electorate.

"This rally seeks to deny a section of the Burnley community from exercising their human rights."