TWO more community leaders have pledged their support for a major anti-racism rally to be held in Burnley tomorrow.

Council leader Stuart Caddy and former mayor Rafique Malik have both called on people in the town to back the Unite to Stop the BNP event, which aims to bring politicians, clergy, national activists and television celebrities to the town.

The demo has been organised by the Coalition Against Racism in the wake of the Burnley riots in June last year and the election in May, when three BNP councillors were voted on to the council.

Last week Burnley MP Peter Pike threw his weight behind the cause saying the far right could offer the town nothing.

Coun Caddy today said: "Voting for candidates from the extreme right wing has not and will not change things for the better in this town. I urge all those who want to see a united and prosperous Burnley to support this campaign."

Rafique Malik added: "The BNP are seeking to drop the neo-nazi tag that follows them by embracing community politics. This is an attemp to conceal their true nature. Burnley must unite to stop the BNP."

The far right party has since said it is considering fielding candidates in Blackburn and the Ribble Valley within the next few years. Organisers said the demo would highlight "united opposition to the BNP and their policies of race hate."

The rally will take place at the James Hargreaves stand at Burnley Football Club's Turf Moor ground and speakers billed to appear include TUC Deputy General Secretary Brendan Barber, Burnley Council leader Stuart Caddy, Bishop of Burnley the Right Reverend John Goddard, and Coun Roger Frost, who leads the town's Lib-Dem group.

Also expected to speak are Lee Jasper from the National Assembly Against Racism, which advises the Home Office on race issues, and former Burnley mayor Coun Malik and son Shahid Malik, now a member of Labour's National Executive.

East Lancashire MPs and Accrington-born actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, have been approached. Communications Union general secretary Billy Hayes may also appear.

A spokesman for the organisers said: "We are deeply concerned at the election of three members of the British National Party to Burnley Council.

"We believe the politics of the extreme right pose a serious threat to our democratic values. We are committed to the widest possible opposition against the BNP.

"We stand with the majority of electors in Burnley and elsewhere who, we strongly believe, do not share the vision of the extreme right. We call on those who support a society based on diversity, equality and respect to unite against the BNP."

Steven Smith, organiser of the BNP in Burnley, said: "The demo is something people neither asked for nor want.

"If the Coalition Against Racism believes it is an organisation which has support from the Burnley public, they should stand in the next elections as the BNP are going to do. We expect to win more council seats."

Simon Bennett, deputy organiser of the Burnley and Pendle BNP, said: "As far as the demo is concerned, we would ask these outsiders to leave the people of Burnley alone so they can decide, unhindered and without outside influences, who they should vote for.

"This is not a campaign against racism, which they say it is. It is a campaign against the democratic choice of people in Burnley and freedom of speech."