POLICE were on standby in the Ribble Valley today as British National Party supporters converged on the area for their annual carnival.

All local police leave was cancelled and officers were drafted in from other areas, amid fears that the Anti-Nazi League might attempt to breach a five-kilometre exclusion zone around the rally site to hold a counter demonstration.

A police spokesman said their presence in the area would be significant due to the controversial rally.

"A minority of demonstrators may attempt to breach the exclusion zone and we will have a sufficient presence throughout the weekend to ensure they don't," the spokesman said.

The Anti-Nazi League yesterday held a press conference near the site of the BNP rally, which is taking place throughout the weekend in a field off the A59 near Sawley, Clitheroe.

ANL spokesman Julie Waterson said: "The police and local authorities are wasting public money preventing us from demonstrating. The rapid growth in extreme right wing politics across Europe demonstrates that we cannot afford to be complacent about the threat posed by the BNP.

"We will be distributing leaflets in Clitheroe and surrounding villages, and still hope to have a presence near the rally.